Assessment Of Quality Status Of Ogwugwu-Mbara River In Isiala Mbano L.G.A Of Imo State, Nigeria For Irrigation Purposes

ABSTRACT

The study of the Assessment of quality status of Ogwugwu Mbara River in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area in Imo State for irrigation purposes was carried out . Water were sampled in the months of April, August, November covering the major seas of the year, the rainy and the dry season. the water samples were analyzed according to the ISO standards for water quality analysis. The physicochemical parameter analysed include Temperature, Colour, Turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids, Electrical Conductivity, Alkalinity, Acidity, Salinity, pH, Chloride, Total Hardness, Sulphate, Phosphate, Sodium, Potassium and Sodium Absorption ratio. The results of the water analysis was compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). The values of the turbidity of the analysed water ranges 5.0 NTU and 7.6 NTU. This value is quite above the 5 NTU recommended by WHO for drinking water quality but good for irrigation purposes as FAO has no limit for turbidity of water for irrigation purposes. . The values of Electrical conductivity EC for the water samples for the three months ranges between was 16.0 is/cm and 44.2 is/cm. This value is within the acceptable limit of 2000iis/cm prescribed by FAO for irrigation purposes. The values of the SAR br the water samples analyzed for the three months (April, August and November) show that the values ranged between 3.51 and 4.63. The highest value was recorded in November while the least value was recorded in August. farmers living around Ogwugwu Mbara River in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area in Imo State should be free to use the river as source for irrigation farming since the water pose no danger to both the soil and crops as the parameters analysed are all within the acceptable range for irrigation purposes.