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Journal of Environmental Hydrology
ISSN 1058-3912 |
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Electronic Journal of the International Association for
Environmental Hydrology
JEH Volume 17 (2009), Paper 18 Posted August 12, 2009 SUITABILITY OF RUNOFF WATER QUALITY FOR IRRIGATION FROM A PLOT TREATED WITH CASSAVA EFFLUENTS
J.A. Osunbitan ABSTRACT The quality of runoff from a plot treated with cassava waste was examined in the laboratory to evaluate the runoff water quality for irrigation purposes. To study the runoff quality, rectangular soil plots with 840 mm x 302 mm text area were used. The experiment had a 3 x 5 factorial design with two independent variables. The independent variables were cassava effluent resident time (12 h, 24 h and 36 h) and cassava effluent addition rate (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 m3/ha). At the end of each experimental run, runoff was collected, and soil loss and runoff quality were determined. On the average, the soil loss from the plot increased from 10.05 kg/ha/mm when no effluent was added to 76.46 kg/ha/mm of simulated rainfall when 40 m3/ha of effluent was added. Soil loss from the plot also increased from 15.19 kg/ha/mm to 50.10 kg/ha/mm as the resident time increased from 12 h to 36 h. The EC of all the runoff samples from the plots are within the "good" class criterion for irrigation water. The highest EC value of 0.335 dS/m was observed when 40 m3/ha of cassava effluent was on the soil for 12 h. The result of the qualitative analysis also revealed that all the runoff water obtained from the different combinations of the two factors met the EPA total solid standard of not more than 500 mg/l. SAR values of all the runoff water collected from the plots are also within the low sodium hazard classification. With the addition of amendments to slightly increase the pH, the runoff water is suitable for irrigation purposes. Reference: Osunbitan, J.A. 2009. Suitability of runoff water quality for irrigation from a plot treated with cassava effluents. Journal of Environmental Hydrology, Vol. 17, Paper 18. CONTACT: J.A. Osunbitan Department of Agricultural Engineering Obafemi Awolowo University Ile - Ife, Nigeria E-mail: josunbit@yahoo.com |
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