Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana
As part of the semi-arid region, Ghana falls within the West African Sahel region with high climatic variability and severe droughts, especially in the Northern parts. The Northern region is characterized as one of the driest in Ghana. It experiences one rainy season in a year, though agriculture is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Water Practice and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/18/8/1980 |
| _version_ | 1797689407123226624 |
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| author | Umar Farouk Iddrisu Valentine Chi Mbatchou Edward Kwaku Armah Bright Selorm Amedorme |
| author_facet | Umar Farouk Iddrisu Valentine Chi Mbatchou Edward Kwaku Armah Bright Selorm Amedorme |
| author_sort | Umar Farouk Iddrisu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As part of the semi-arid region, Ghana falls within the West African Sahel region with high climatic variability and severe droughts, especially in the Northern parts. The Northern region is characterized as one of the driest in Ghana. It experiences one rainy season in a year, though agriculture is one of the main economic activities. Nanton district in the Northern region consists of farming communities. However, there is limited availability of water for crop watering during the dry season and groundwater could become a possible source of water supply. This research, therefore, seeks to provide information on the irrigation quality status of groundwater in the Nanton district. Information from this research also aims to assist policymakers take the right decisions for sustainable agriculture in the study area. Irrigation water indexes in combination with the USSL diagram were adopted as methods for analyses in this research. Results generally suggest that groundwater in the study area is suitable for irrigation purposes, except for a few places in the district. Further studies should be conducted to precisely state the quality of water used for drinking and domestic purposes. The research should also emphasize identifying factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the area.
HIGHLIGHTS
This paper presents preliminary insights into groundwater as a sustainable alternative source for agriculture.;
Stakeholders can utilize the information in this study to enhance farming activities within the area.;
Policymakers can make informed decisions toward achieving food security based on the findings of this research.;
The findings support irrigation as a contributing factor toward the improvement of agribusiness.;
The research supports Nanton’s socio-economic growth through efficient and responsible use of groundwater.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:45:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3cc4aeda409b4eaa9490bc74bfb3eacc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-231X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:45:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Practice and Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3cc4aeda409b4eaa9490bc74bfb3eacc2023-09-09T08:41:58ZengIWA PublishingWater Practice and Technology1751-231X2023-08-011881980199010.2166/wpt.2023.125125Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, GhanaUmar Farouk Iddrisu0Valentine Chi Mbatchou1Edward Kwaku Armah2Bright Selorm Amedorme3 School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana School of Chemical and Biochemical Sciences, Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 24, Navrongo, Ghana Water Research Institute, Environmental Chemistry, and Sanitation Engineering Division CSIR Premises, Airport Res. Area, P.O. Box M. 32, Accra, Ghana As part of the semi-arid region, Ghana falls within the West African Sahel region with high climatic variability and severe droughts, especially in the Northern parts. The Northern region is characterized as one of the driest in Ghana. It experiences one rainy season in a year, though agriculture is one of the main economic activities. Nanton district in the Northern region consists of farming communities. However, there is limited availability of water for crop watering during the dry season and groundwater could become a possible source of water supply. This research, therefore, seeks to provide information on the irrigation quality status of groundwater in the Nanton district. Information from this research also aims to assist policymakers take the right decisions for sustainable agriculture in the study area. Irrigation water indexes in combination with the USSL diagram were adopted as methods for analyses in this research. Results generally suggest that groundwater in the study area is suitable for irrigation purposes, except for a few places in the district. Further studies should be conducted to precisely state the quality of water used for drinking and domestic purposes. The research should also emphasize identifying factors controlling groundwater chemistry in the area. HIGHLIGHTS This paper presents preliminary insights into groundwater as a sustainable alternative source for agriculture.; Stakeholders can utilize the information in this study to enhance farming activities within the area.; Policymakers can make informed decisions toward achieving food security based on the findings of this research.; The findings support irrigation as a contributing factor toward the improvement of agribusiness.; The research supports Nanton’s socio-economic growth through efficient and responsible use of groundwater.;http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/18/8/1980irrigation water indexesnantonsustainable irrigationussl diagram |
| spellingShingle | Umar Farouk Iddrisu Valentine Chi Mbatchou Edward Kwaku Armah Bright Selorm Amedorme Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana Water Practice and Technology irrigation water indexes nanton sustainable irrigation ussl diagram |
| title | Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana |
| title_full | Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana |
| title_short | Groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in Nanton district, Ghana |
| title_sort | groundwater quality assessment for sustainable irrigation in nanton district ghana |
| topic | irrigation water indexes nanton sustainable irrigation ussl diagram |
| url | http://wpt.iwaponline.com/content/18/8/1980 |
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