Suitability Assessment of Surface Water for Irrigation in Galma Floodplain, Zaria, Kaduna State North Western, Nigeria

This study was conducted so as to determine the suitability of these surface waters for irrigation activities within the Galma irrigation scheme. Surface water was sampled from nine locations along Galma river in 2014 and analyzed for various irrigation water quality parameters. Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solid, Total hardness, Sodium adsorption ratio, Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate were used to assess the quality of water for irrigation. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to data on the physico-chemical parameters of water from Galma river. The water samples analyzed had pH range (6.75 to 7.04) within the normal range for crop production and very low (electrical conductivity 0.15-0.72 dSm-1). The sodium adsorption ratio values in all the samples were also very low (<0.4), indicating very low sodicity hazards. Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate ranged from 2.48 to 3.53 and -15.2 to -11.52 respectively. Base on Electrical conductivity, Total dissolved solid, Total hardness, Sodium adsorption ratio, Soluble sodium percentage and Residual sodium bicarbonate, Galma river was considered suitable for irrigation.