Assessment Of Groundwater Quality For Irrigation Purposes In Ado-Odo-Ilaro District, South-Western Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

The need to increase the agricultural outputs is the major concern of the farmers in Ado-OdoIlaro District. Therefore there is need to determine the physico-chemical and geochemical parameters of groundwater and surface water within this sedimentary terrain in order to ascertain the quality of groundwater for agricultural purposes. Thirty-three underground water samples were collected for the determination of physical and chemical parameters. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP%), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR%), Permeability Index (P.I%), and the Kelly’s Ratio (K.R%), the data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. The water in the area is, generally odourless, slightly acidic, with values ranging from 4.36-5.48, Electrical Conductivity ranged from 91-1950(µmho/cm). The average values of the SAR, SSP, MAR, P.I, and K.R were 45.9, 69.04, 88.94, 87.57, and 2.76 respectively. The Total Dissolved Solids ranged from 0.002-0.004 Mg/L. The groundwater is partially good for human consumption. The underground water is fairly for Irrigation purposes if improved upon.