Evaluation of Water for Irrigation in Akwa Ibom State Geological Formation of Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess irrigation water quality of the major geological formations of Akwa Ibom state on both dry and wet  seasons. The pre knowledge of irrigation water quality of an area of an intended irrigation project is very necessary. Therefore, this work  researches on irrigation water quality on major geological formations of Akwa Ibom State. They are Alluvium, Benin, and Ogwashi. The  water quality suitability for irrigation purposes was assessed, for wet and dry session, based on Sodium Absorption Ration (Alluvium: Dry;  0.16Meq/1, wet season;0.23Meq/1, Benin : Dry season 0.19Meq/1, Wet season; 0.15Meq/1, Ogwashi : Dry season ; 0.21Meq/1, Wet  season 0.25) , Soluble Sodium percentage (Alluvium : Dry Season ; 2.94%, Wet 4.45% , Benin : Dry Season ; 3.38%, Wet Season; 5.98%,  Ogwashi : Dry Season 3.77%, Wet season; 4.83%, Permeability index (Alluvium : Dry Season; 13.27%, Wet Season 11.95; Benin: Dry Season;  12.34%, Wet Season 14.22%, Ogwashi: Dry Season; 12.11%, Wet Season; 12.01%, Kelly ratio (Alluvium: Dry Season: 0.03Meq/1,  Wet season 0.04, Benin: Dry Season; 0.03Meq/1, Wet Season 0.06Meq/1, Ogwashi: Dry Season; 0.033Meq/1, Wet Season; 0.05Meq/1,  Electrical conductivity(Alluvium Dry Season;13.30µs/cm, Wet Season; 25.96µs/cm, Benin: Season; Dry Season;19.34µs/cm, Wet  Season;12.28µs/cm, Ogwashi: Dry Season;32.13µs/cm, Wet Season;17.94µs/cm and Total dissolved solid (Alluvium: Dry Season; 6.51mg/1,  Wet Season; 11.96mg/1, Benin: Dry Season; 14.33mg/1, Wet Season;7.02mg/1, Ogwashi: Dry Season; 16.02mg/1 and Wet  Season; 10.27mg/1. The result of this work indicated that the water quality in Akwa Ibom State geological formations is suitable for  irrigation.