Abstract

A study was carried out in the three sugarcane growing divisions (Millsite, Seethancheri and Uttiramerur) of Uttiramerur taluk of Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu to assess the quality of irrigation water. The reaction of irrigation waters was neutral (6.8 to 7.8) in Millsite and Seethancheri cane divisions while it was mildly alkaline in some locations of Uttiramerur cane division. The electrical conductivity values indicated that the soluble salt content was more in Uttiramerur when compared to Millsite and Seethancheri cane divisions. Most of the samples (71.43%) registered the Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) values of <1.25 m.e. L'. About 25 per cent of the samples had recorded >2.5 m.c. L and 3.57 per cent of the samples recorded RSC values of 1.25 to 2.5 m.c. L¹. Out of twenty eight water samples, twenty two samples were classified under high salinity (C), five water samples under medium salinity (C) and one water sample under very high salinity (C). With respect to sodicity, twenty three samples were classified under low sodium water (S2), four samples under medium sodium water (S) and one sample under high sodium water (S2).

Keywords: Quality of irrigation water, Sugarcane.