Water Quality of Irrigation Water into and out of an Irrigated Sugar Cane Plantation

Abstract

A study was carried out to assess the water quality of incoming, outgoing and a receiving stream water from a furrow irrigated sugar plantation. pH did not vary significantly at the three sampling points in the rainy season, but differences were observed in the dry season with incoming water having the highest value (p < 0.05) and outgoing water the least. Dissolved solids were highest (p < 0.05) in the incoming water in both seasons while in the rainy season, the lowest value was in the outgoing water. In the rainy season, sulphate and phosphate were higher (p < 0.05) in the incoming water while the amounts in the outgoing water and in the stream did not differ. Water hardness was highest in the outgoing and lowest in the incoming water in both seasons. Chloride was highest (p < 0.05) in the outgoing water in both seasons and the values in the incoming water and in the stream did not differ. Nitrate was higher in outgoing water compared to the incoming and stream water in the rainy season, while in the dry season, the concentration was highest in the stream. Copper was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the incoming water compared to the other points in the two seasons. All the parameters were below the standard limits and this demonstrated that the threat to water quality in the stream was minimal. The scheme may still cause some grave impact in the receiving stream, such that in a few years, serious water quality deterioration could take place.