Laboratory Manual on Poor Quality Water Analysis

Abstract

Annual demand for food, fiber, fodder and bio-energy in African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) member developing countries is growing at the rate of 3.7%. Land and water degradation are the two principal constraints in achieving the desired growth rate. Asia suffers from the maximum extent of salinisation covering 52.7 mha (69%) followed by 14.8 mha (19%) in Africa as compared to the minimum 3.8 mha (5%) in Europe. Asia exploits 67% of the total groundwater used for agriculture in the world and Africa has only modest reserves of groundwater. Gradual decline in surface water resources due to contamination, climatic change and other hazards causes additional stress on the available groundwater resources of AARDO nations in semi-arid and arid regions. On the other hand, over-exploitation of groundwater resources has led to continuous deterioration in quality. Further, expected rise in temperature with changes in climate is likely to increase salinisation of land and water resources. Contamination of water resources from point and non-point sources has also aggravated with urbanization and industrialization. These factors and fast emerging competition from other sectors of economy challenge the availability and accessibility of fresh water resources to agriculture. Thus the farmers are forced to use poor quality groundwater and wastewater for irrigation posing serious implications to agricultural production, sustainability of natural eco-systems and increased health problems. The indiscriminate and unscientific use of such water although pose grave threat to natural resources, crop production and human health; but their rational use by adopting suitable time tested agro-practices can supplement shortage of fresh water and conserve their nutrient potential. However, characterization of such poor quality water is the first and foremost step for making their optimal use. For this purpose, the standard procedures of detecting a range of water quality parameters used to judge its suitability for irrigation, nutrients and toxic substances and public health have been compiled in this laboratory manual. We hope that this laboratory manual will help in building the capabilities and capacity of water resources managers and implementers to optimize nutrient and irrigation use potential of poor quality water in safe manner, augmenting the fresh water supplies to agriculture and thus food production in all developing AARDO nations. Since this laboratory manual is specifically compiled for capacity building of AARDO member countries; we are highly grateful to AARDO for sponsoring and Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India for financing the international training programmes at Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (ICAR-CSSRI), Karnal. We are obliged to Director, CSSRI, Karnal who has been a source of inspiration, guidance and encouragement in conducting the international capacity building programmes and compilation of this laboratory manual.