Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Suitability Analysis for Irrigation Purpose, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu

The suitability of groundwater quality was assessed for agricultural purposes along the coastal area of Cuddalore District. A total of 21 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for 14 different chemical parameters during the period of 2012-13. Standard methods were followed and the concentrations of physicochemical parameters of pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), Ca++, Mg++, Na+, K+, HCO3-, Cl- and , SO4- analyzed. The results of the concentrations were interpreted and measured with different irrigation indexes like EC, sodium percent (SP), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI) and Kelly's ratio (KR). The interpreted results were indicated that the groundwater quality stands on EC values; 62 and 38% of the samples fall under medium to high salinity and very high salinity category in pre and post-monsoon seasons was 75 and 20% respectively and stands on sodium percent (SP) values, 43 and 29% of the samples fall under doubtful to unsuitable category in both seasons. The remaining indexes SAR and PI values stands on 100% of the samples and fall under the excellent and excellent to good category in both seasons. Hence, the indexes results were concluded that the quality of groundwater in general 60% of sample was suitable for irrigation without any practices.