Spatial and Temporal Variation of Nitrate-N in Groundwater at IARI Farm

Ch. J. Dash; A. Sarangi; D.K. Singh

doi:10.52151/jae2012492.1478

Authors

Ch. J. Dash Ph.D scholar, Division of Agricultural Engineering, IARI, New Delhi – 110 012 Author
A. Sarangi Senior Scientist, Water Technology Centre, IARI, New Delhi – 110012 Author
D.K. Singh Senior Scientist, Water Technology Centre, IARI, New Delhi – 110012 Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2012492.1478

Keywords:

Groundwater , Nitrate-N , Geostatistics , ArcGIS

Abstract

Continuous loading of agrochemicals, a common phenomenon in intensive agriculture, results in groundwater pollution as these chemicals move with irrigation water to the aquifer. Ground water monitoring undertaken for a period from November 2007 to May 2009 at the farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi revealed that nitrate-N concentration ranged from a minimum of 6.9 mg.l-1 to a maximum of 26.2 mg.l-1 with a mean of 14.0 mg.l-1. The spatio-temporal variability map of nitrate load generated through geostatistical wizard of ArcGIS revealed that N concentration exceeded 15 mg.l-1 in the western part of the farm. The area under this high nitrate-N load varied from a minimum of 5% in one season to a maximum of 28% of total farm area in the other season.

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