Health hazardous: nitrate-n in groundwater and soil in Intensified agricultural areas

The study was focused on estimation of nitrate-N in groundwater and soil in intensive agricultural areas mainly on Valikamam East, Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Groundwater samples from sixty eight wells were collected from the intensive agricultural areas and an analysis was done periodically from July 2007 to February 2008 throughout dry and wet season for nitrate-N concentration. Out of sampled area, some of the areas were selected for soil sampling to see the nitrate level in the soil. Nitrate-N in the groundwater and soil was determined by brucine method. The nitrate- N vary in all the months in sixty eight wells and values were ranged from 0.1mg/l to 17.83 mg/l. Out of sixty eight tested wells, 80% of the wells were not recommended for drinking water in intensified agricultural areas and all the wells were accepted for irrigation requirement. High concentration of nitrate-N was observed till 0- 40 cm of soil profile and the concentration was low below the top layer. There was a good correlation between soil nitrate-N to groundwater nitrate-N

as the methods for assessment of health risks

Aim of the work was to investigate the pollutants level specially Nitrate- N in the groundwater and compare the obtained results with WHO standard. Groundwater sample were collected from sixty wells consists of thirty cancer patients well as case and other thirty as control within 100 m distance from highly affected three areas of oesophagus and stomach cancer. Questionnaire was used for case- control study. The determined values expressed by hazard quotient indicate that the water pollutants and their concentrations do not exceed unity. Chunnakam was shown the high odds ratio which was greater than one. But in relative risk was greater than one in all the selected three areas. Ingestion with water is the main pathway for nitrates than the vegetables in areas where groundwater with high nitrate content

Micro irrigation technology: a remedy for groundwater management in Jaffna peninsula

The study was conducted with the objective of estimating groundwater saving, irrigation intervals and duration for cabbage, a field trial was carried out with sprinkler irrigation to see the performance of yield. The field posses the main soil type of Calcic red yellow latosol and located under DL3 region. The ten treatments were carried out including farmers’ practices, morning sprinkler irrigation for 15 and 25 minutes and morning and evening sprinkler irrigation for15 and 25 minutes with two varieties analyzed by two factorial randomized block complete design. Irrigation duration of 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation with Green coronet variety field was record highest yield of 4.53 kg/m2 and 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation with K – Y cross variety field was record lowest yield of 3.94 kg/m2. Morning sprinkler irrigation was statistically not significant different from morning & evening sprinkler irrigation and these two treatments were statistically significant different from ridge and furrow irrigation for two varieties. Finally 15 minutes sprinkler irrigation was selected as best treatment and followed by 25 minutes sprinkler irrigation. Green coronet variety more response to sprinkler irrigation than K – Y cross variety. The depth of water application was higher in ridge and furrow irrigation than sprinkler irrigation. The saving of 69.31% of groundwater was accounted under sprinkler irrigation system with 15 min duration compared to ridge and furrow irrigation method. Adaptation of sprinkler irrigation is more economical and water saving than the ridge and furrow irrigation

Assessment of soil loss and nutrient depletion due to cassava harvesting: A case study from low input traditional agriculture

Cassava is a major food crop for farmers and especially small holder farmers and cultivated under low input other than the irrigation. It is cultivated as mono crop or intercrop at early stage and cultivating throughout the year. It is harvested carefully because of cyanogenic glucosides and consumed with in day. Easy and un-damageable uprooting of the tuber mainly depends on soil moisture, texture and agronomic practices. The study was focused with the objectives of the assessment of soil loss due to the harvesting of cassava roots tubers under low input agriculture, and to estimate the amount of plant nutrients loss due to crop harvest for cassava. Also the observation was made the correlation between the soil loss and physical characters of the tuber, soil texture and agronomic practices. Average plant specific soil loss due to crop harvesting was 80. 7 g root−1 and crop specific soil loss due to crop harvesting was 7. 64 kg ha−1 harvest−1 loss in Valliagmam area in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Soil moisture content at harvesting time was a significant factor that explained the variations in the soil lost at cassava harvesting. Soil moisture has linear positive relationship with average plant specific soil loss due to crop harvesting. Soil nutrient loss during cassava harvesting by removal of adhering soil with root tuber was 1. 15 kg of N, 1. 99 kg of P and 2. 91 kg of K ha−1 harvest−1. Application of fertilizer is important since considerable amount nutrient loss was observed due to soil loss due to crop harvest

Assessment of soil loss and nutrient depletion due to cassava harvesting: A case study from low input traditional agriculture

AbstractCassava is a major food crop for farmers and especially small holder farmers and cultivated under low input other than the irrigation. It is cultivated as mono crop or intercrop at early stage and cultivating throughout the year. It is harvested carefully because of cyanogenic glucosides and consumed with in day. Easy and un-damageable uprooting of the tuber mainly depends on soil moisture, texture and agronomic practices. The study was focused with the objectives of the assessment of soil loss due to the harvesting of cassava roots tubers under low input agriculture, and to estimate the amount of plant nutrients loss due to crop harvest for cassava. Also the observation was made the correlation between the soil loss and physical characters of the tuber, soil texture and agronomic practices. Average plant specific soil loss due to crop harvesting was 80. 7 g root−1 and crop specific soil loss due to crop harvesting was 7. 64 kg ha−1 harvest−1 loss in Valliagmam area in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Soil moisture content at harvesting time was a significant factor that explained the variations in the soil lost at cassava harvesting. Soil moisture has linear positive relationship with average plant specific soil loss due to crop harvesting. Soil nutrient loss during cassava harvesting by removal of adhering soil with root tuber was 1. 15 kg of N, 1. 99 kg of P and 2. 91 kg of K ha−1 harvest−1. Application of fertilizer is important since considerable amount nutrient loss was observed due to soil loss due to crop harvest