Temporal Variations in Groundwater Quality with Special Reference to Irrigation in Faridkot and Muktsar Areas of Southwest Punjab, India

Punjab, known as the bread basket of India, is a modest-sized state tucked away on the north-western border of India with huge grain surplus produced by its farmers since the green revolution, thus helping the country in its journey towards self-sufficiency in food. Yet, the agriculture in its intensive form involved high consumption of fertilizers and irrigation. Recent studies from different organizations confirmed massive concentration of chemical fertilizers and heavy metals in south-western parts of Punjab. Faridkot and Muktsar, located in southwest of the state, are two agriculture dominated districts of Southwest Punjab. This paper highlights temporal variations of groundwater quality and comparison on its suitability for irrigation purposes in these two districts. In both the districts, total hardness and sodium adsorption ratio was indicative of the unsuitability of groundwater for irrigation purposes. The water samples in the study area showed appreciable rise in electrical conductivity indicating high salinity, especially in Muktsar district. In order to use the water resources judiciously and maintain the agricultural productivity, there is a need for groundwater management, which will lead to sustainable development in Faridkot and Muktsar.