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Questions and Answers
What is the main criterion for judging the quality of irrigation water?
Total salt concentration as measured by electrical conductivity.
Which ions are considered cations in irrigation water quality assessment?
Which of these constituents is harmful to animals when present in excess?
What is the medium range of salinity class of irrigation water in milli mhos/cm?
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Salinity of water refers to the concentration of total soluble salts in it.
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The harmful effects of saline water increase with an increase in total ______ concentration.
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What are the common anions present in irrigation water?
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Study Notes
Irrigation Water Quality
- Irrigation water suitability depends primarily on salt content and type.
- Major soluble components include calcium, magnesium, sodium (cations), and chloride, sulfate, bicarbonate (anions).
- Minor, but potentially harmful (at high concentrations) ions include boron, selenium, molybdenum, and fluorine. These can negatively affect animals consuming plants grown with excessive levels.
Criteria for Assessing Irrigation Water Quality
- Total salt concentration (measured via electrical conductivity (ECw)) is a key indicator.
- Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) reflects the relative proportion of sodium to other cations.
- Bicarbonate content, boron concentration, and soluble sodium percentage are additional crucial factors.
Total Soluble Salts & Salinity
- Salinity denotes the total soluble salt concentration in water; a primary determinant of irrigation water quality.
- Higher salt concentration leads to increased negative effects on plants.
- ECw indirectly measures soluble salt concentration.
- USDA classifies saline water into five classes based on ECw (specific values not provided in the text).
- Negative impacts of saline water include salt accumulation in soil, reduced water availability to plants, poor germination, uneven crop growth, stunted growth with altered leaf characteristics (darker, thicker, smaller), leaf damage (necrosis and drop), root death, wilting, nutrient deficiencies, and reduced crop yields.
- The text mentions a medium salinity range, but the numerical value is missing.
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Description
This quiz evaluates your understanding of irrigation water quality, focusing on the significance of salt content and its components. You will learn about key criteria for assessing water suitability for irrigation, including electrical conductivity and sodium adsorption ratio. Test your knowledge on how these factors impact plant health.
