Sea Water Intrusion and Surface Water Salinity and Its Influence on Irrigation Water Quality in Ramisi Area, Kenya
Journal Title: Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International - Year 2017, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
Cane growing is one of the major economic activities in Ramisi, Kwale County besides tourisms and fishing. Although Ramisi Sugar Factory has been defunct for long previously, it has been reinstated and now christened Kwale International Sugar Company Limited (KISCOL). Coast region experience erratic rainfall patterns and limited agricultural land ownership therefore rain fed agriculture is not suitable. The major rivers to supplement experienced unpredictable rainfall patterns in the region are River Ramisi and Mkurumudzi. However, river Ramisi is saline, highly mineralized and unsuitable for domestic and agricultural use according to this study. The river is also affected by seawater intrusion during high tides. KISCOL drilled 37 boreholes to bridge the water demand gap for its operations but the water quality is doubtful due to intrusion effects. The aim of the study was to determine the suitability of water sources in Ramisi in terms of salinity and contaminant levels, risk of salt water intrusion and microbial load. Water samples were purposefully collected from drilled boreholes, River Ramisi and Mkurumudzi then analyzed for organic constituent parameters (pH, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and electrical conductivity). The Physical parameters included; (Turbidity, total alkalinity, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, chlorides and salinity, free carbon dioxide, sulphates, metals) and microbial load using Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater quality (21st Edition) at the Kwale Water and Sewerage Company laboratories in Kwale County, and at the Coast Water Services Board laboratories in Mombasa County. The pH of the water sources ranged from 6.5 to 8.5 with exceeding limits for conductivity, chlorides, TDS, turbidity (25 NTU) and TDS (1,237.6667 mg/l). Magnesium, Iron, Sodium and Potassium and nutrients were below the permissible levels for irrigation water. Thus river Mkurumudzi and groundwater sources are not at risk of sea water intrusion, but river Ramisi is suffering from the effects of sea water intrusion during high tides and is unsuitable for cane irrigation and probably any other crop. Most surface water sources were contaminated with total coliforms including E. coli hence not suitable for domestic use.
Authors and Affiliations
A. Chalala, L. M. Chimbevo, J. M. Kahindo, M. M. Awadh
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP317926
- DOI 10.9734/JAERI/2017/16642
- Views 84
- Downloads 0
An Inventory of Flora in Um Dom Island (Khartoum State), Sudan
This study documents and updates the flora information of Um Dom Island, Khartoum State, Sudan. Herbarium specimens were prepared and deposited in the Herbarium of the Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum. Identifi...
Influence of Low Storage Temperature and Gibberellic Acid Treatments on Growth and Yield of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) at Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia
The effects of pre planting cloves treatment with Gibberellic acid (GA3) plant hormone and cold temperature storage duration to improve growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.), was investigated during 2013/2014...
Glyphosate Influence on the Soil Microorganism Sensibility, Physiological Parameters of the Plant, Isoflavones and Residues in the Seeds and Soil
The use of Glyphosate herbicide is the best way to control weed growing when cultivating genetically modified soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] resistant to glyphosate (N-phosphono-methyl-glycine) (GR). However, there hav...
Estimation of Optimum Rate of Sulfur for Application in Soils for Wheat Production in Ethiopia –III
Six on-farm experiments were conducted in 2013/2014 seasons, in the Central Highlands (CHLs) of Ethiopia, with the main aim of estimating optimum sulfur rate for wheat. The treatments were, 4-levels of S(S0 =0, S1 =5, S2...
Genotypic Variation in Physiological Quality of Stored Cotton Seed
Seeds of five cotton genotypes viz., CB-8, BC-0236, SR-08, BC-0125 and BC-0252 were assessed to observe the effect of packing materials on physiological quality of cotton seed stored under ambient condition. The packagin...