Monitoring the Physicochemical Properties of Water Used for Irrigation in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT Abuja, Nigeria

Water is one of the most important global requirements for every activity in life including agricultural irrigation. Water if polluted, creates direct problems of alkalinity/salinity/toxicity to agricultural farms, thereby negatively affecting the quality and nutritional value of cultivated crops. This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical parameters of river water from eight different rivers within Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, using standard methods. These parameters were determined during wet and dry seasons and the results showed seasonal variations of all the parameters. Means of seasonal values of pH ranged between 6.37 - 7.95, temperature 22.40 – 27.100°C and electrical conductivity 124.55 μS/cm – 312.32 μS/cm. The mean values of Dissolve oxygen (DO) and Dissolved solid (DS) in the two seasons (wet and dry) were 3.37 mg/l – 9.39 mg/l and 67.76 mg/l - 151.23 mg/l respectively. For sulphate, phosphate, nitrate and turbidity, the mean values for wet and dry seasons ranged between 42.94 – 98.98 mg/l, 0.98 – 3.56 mg/l, 4.98 – 11.94 and 4.90 – 47.32 NTU respectively. Other parameters are potassium 3.12-6.56 mg/l, sodium 13.78 -24.33 mg/l, magnesium 3.76 – 8.90 mg/l and calcium 9.78 – 19.87 mg/l. These chemical parameters also showed significant seasonal variation. The results of the analyses indicated that some of the parameters fall within the recommended limits and thus largely suitable for irrigation and domestic purposes.