GROUNDWATER SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM YADAGIR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA

A total of 90 groundwater samples spread across three taluks of Yadagir district were collected during pre-monsoon season, 2018 and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and irrigation quality parameters like sodium absorption ratio (SAR), Percent sodium (%Na) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) were calculated to assess groundwater suitability for irrigation purpose. It was evident from the results that 8.82, 60 and 87.1 % of samples respectively in Yadagir, Shahapur and Shorapur taluks were recorded the pH values above the BIS standard limit of 6.5-8.5. Higher alkaline pH values prevailing in majority of groundwater samples from the study area is due to higher alkalinity and bicarbonate concentration. Electrical conductivity values in 35.29, 28 and 35.48 % of samples respectively in Yadagir, Shahapur and Shorapur taluks witnessed the higher values above 2000 ?S/cm, while 97, 84 and 70.96 % samples respectively in the above taluks showed higher TDS values above BIS desirable limit of 500 mg/L. Overall quality of 32.22 % of groundwater samples from Yadagir district is classified as good water (50>WQI