Authors : Anju Verma, Bishwajeet Thakur, Vibhuti Rai and Kamlesh Verma
Abstract: Canal irrigation was taken up as one of the most important way to irrigate crops in seasons when there is scarcity of water. The study area is under dense network of Sharda Sahayak canal which was commenced in 1972. The major areas in this canal command are now facing the problems of water logging and secondary salinity. The areas in the close vicinity of canal are permanently water logged. Most of the areas in close vicinity of main feeder canal are water submerged due to seepage from the canal and as we move away from the canal water table depth increases. The water table data is correlated with soil data for parameters like pH, EC, ESP, SAR and ESC. It shows that soil samples from the areas in close proximity of the canal have water table <3 mbgl (meters belowground level) have pH>10, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) >18 and Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) >20 is in the category of sodic land according to USDA classification. The locations away from the main canal have water table >5 mbgl have normal soil categorization with pH (7-9), SAR (<15) and ESP (<18). Soil profile data of all the parameters (EC, pH, soil texture, ESP, SAR) decreases with the depth profile indicating salts enrichment is pronounced in upper layer. Development of secondary salinity through capillary action due to evaporation is clearly indicated. Chemical analysis of the water samples are well within the permissible range of different cations and anions required for irrigation purpose. The problem of sodicity is not due to the inherent chemical nature of the water but developed by capillary action of water in the soil (through physical process).
Anju Verma, Bishwajeet Thakur, Vibhuti Rai and Kamlesh Verma, 2012. Study of Relationship Between Water Table and Soil Degradation in Sharda Sahayak Canal Command in Barabanki District, Uttar Pradesh, India. Agricultural Journal, 7: 128-134.