Assessment of Irrigation Water Quality in Nira Command Area of Baramati Tehsil, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

In the Nira command area of Baramati tehsil, Maharashtra, increasing reliance on groundwater for irrigation has raised concerns about the quality and suitability of available water resources for sustainable crop production. The study assessed the quality of irrigation water in the Nira command area of Baramati tehsil in Maharashtra during April-May 2025, through a cross-sectional field sampling and laboratory analysis. A total of 105 water samples (53 from open wells and 52 from borewells) were collected from 15 villages and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), anions (CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻), boron and nitrate. The pH ranged from 6.93–8.10 (mean 7.41) in open wells and 7.05–8.30 (mean 7.61) in borewells, indicating neutral to moderately alkaline water. Electrical conductivity varied from 0.46–1.56 dS m⁻¹ (mean 0.99) in open wells and 0.56–2.63 dS m⁻¹ (mean 1.39) in borewells, suggesting higher salinity risk in borewells. Total cations were dominated by Na⁺ and Ca²⁺, with higher concentrations in borewells, while total anions were mainly HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, again more pronounced in borewells. Boron concentrations ranged from 0.15–1.63 ppm, remaining within safe limits. Nitrate levels varied from 0.50–10.50 ppm (mean 4.33) in open wells and 1.03–13.40 ppm (mean 6.67) in borewells, with a few borewell samples exceeding the moderate threshold. Overall, the irrigation water was suitable, though borewells showed relatively higher salinity and ion concentrations.