STUDY OF UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION WATER QUALITY AROUND BADRASAR VILLAGE OF BIKANER DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN

A study was conducted to determine the quality of underground water of Badrasar village of Bikaner district of Rajasthan; based on classification, 31.25% of irrigation water was normal waters (SAR 5 - 10) followed by 62.5% low sodic waters (SAR 10-20) and 6.25% medium sodic waters (SAR 20-30), while 50% of irrigation water was low alkali waters (RSC < 2.5 me L-1) followed by 31.25 % medium alkali waters (RSC 2.5 - 5.0 me L-1) , 12.50% high alkali waters (RSC 5-10 me L-1) and 6.25 % high alkali waters (RSC >10.0 me L-1. In underground water, Na+ cation concentration was higher followed by Ca++ while in anions HCO3- was higher followed by Cl- and CO3--in anions. Increasing salt concentration in irrigation water was due to decreasing water table every year because of erratic or low rain fall. In sandy loam soils, higher values of EC, pH, sodium absorption ratio and residual sodium carbonates were recorded in comparison to the sandy soils.