Mapping of water and soil quality parameters for irrigation using remote sensing and GIS

The yield of a crop depends on soil properties, the quantity & quality of water applied, climatic factors and farm practices followed during the crop period. Soil-water chemistry plays a very important role in crop growth. With the increasing pressure of human population, there is a severe stress on water resources. The available surface water resources are limited and being depleted day by day. Many human activities and their byproducts have the potential to pollute surface and subsurface water. Pollutants enter surface or groundwater directly. The yield of a crop depends on quality of water embraces its combined physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The quality of water for irrigation is as important as nature of soil. It affects the fertility of the soil and ultimately the crop yield. In this study, an attempt is being made to study the status of water quality (surface and ground) and soil quality at selected stretches of Vrishabavathi stream near Bangalore. The study shows that Vrishabavathi river, once used to be the major source of water, is fully contaminated from household, commercial and industrial wastes. Most of the farmers in the command use this contaminated water for growing different types of crops. Analysis of the water samples show that the water is unsuitable for irrigation and also affecting the ground water quality of nearby areas along the stream (Comparing with the FAO and Central Water pollution Control Board guidelines). The results show that the polluted water affects the soil parameters too. The results of soil and water samples are integrated with GIS which provide real time spatial information to the decision makers and end users. © 2010 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY.