EFFECT OF SOURCE OF IRRIGATION WATER ON SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN TAMALE METROPOLIS, GHANA

Abstract

This study analyzed the effect of different water sources of irrigation on the chemical constituents of soils in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. Soil samples were taken from depths of 0 – 30 cm and 30 – 60 cm in wastewater, pipe water and non-irrigated (control) sites. Variations in levels of concentration of the various chemical properties, however, occurred among the three different soils. With the exception of % N and Mg, there was no significant difference among all the three soils for all the parameters. The results indicated that N level increased in wastewater irrigated soils as compared to pipe water and non-irrigated soils. P increased with wastewater irrigation but decreased with soil depth. K concentration in wastewater irrigated soils increased in the depth of 0 – 30 cm but decreased in the depth of 30 – 60 cm. Wastewater and pipe water irrigation decreased soil Na and Cl levels compared to the control (non-irrigated soils). Wastewater irrigation increased the level of EC and CEC whilst Cu, Zn and Cd levels increased with soil depth. Cu, Zn and Cd levels of the wastewater, pipe water and non-irrigated soils were higher than the FAO (1985) recommended levels for both depths. It can be concluded that irrigation with wastewater increased soil primary macro nutrients (NPK) whilst micro nutrients such as sodium and chloride decreased with wastewater and pipe water irrigation.