Question Bank • QB_IDE_ADV_076 MSQ • 2 Marks

Section 5: Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Agricultural Drainage

Subtopic: Irrigation and drainage water quality and reuse

Question Statement:

Which of the following chemical criteria and index ranges indicate severe water quality hazards for agricultural irrigation?

Options:

  • (A) Electrical conductivity $EC > 3.0\text{ dS/m}$ (indicating severe salinity hazard)
  • (B) Sodium Adsorption Ratio $SAR > 9.0$ under low salinity (indicating high sodicity hazard and soil permeability degradation)
  • (C) Residual Sodium Carbonate $RSC > 2.50\text{ meq/L}$ (indicating hazardously high alkali hazard requiring chemical amendments)
  • (D) Boron concentration exceeding $2.0\text{ mg/L}$ for boron-sensitive crops

Answer Key:

A, B, C, D

Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation

All four parameters are canonical water quality standards established by FAO and USDA: - A: $EC > 3.0\text{ dS/m}$ causes high osmotic stress. - B: High $SAR$ disperses soil clays, destroying structure and choking infiltration. - C: Eaton's $RSC > 2.50\text{ meq/L}$ causes complete precipitation of calcium/magnesium as carbonates, driving up exchangeable sodium percentage ($ESP$). - D: Boron toxicity develops at concentrations
gt; 1 - 2\text{ mg/L}$ in citrus, stone fruits, and sensitive legumes.
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