Irrigation Water Quality Assessment Using Water Quality Index and GIS Technique in Pondicherry Region, South India

The utility of groundwater, irrespective of its availability, is essential for mankind. The efficacy of the coastal aquifer’s groundwater quality for agriculture purpose in the Pondicherry region was gauged by their hydrochemistry. 44 groundwater samples were collected during 4 different seasons namely, pre-monsoon (PRM), southwest monsoon (SWM), northeast monsoon (NEM) and post-monsoon (POM). The samples were measured for physico-chemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, HCO3, PO4, SO4 and NO3. The spatio temporal variations of EC indicates that the coastal groundwater were relatively saline except during PRM. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation is evaluated through various water quality parametrs such as Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Na%, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI). Na%, SAR, PI and EC values were spatially interporlated and integrated to determine the regions suitable for irrigation purpose. The study infers that the groundwater of the study area is suitable for irrigation except few samples’ locations along the western part, as they have attained an alarming stage and they are unsuitable for irrigation. Thus, proper management strategy for irrigation water source has to be developed and a preventive management practice to address this issue has to be implemented

Development of ecofriendly antimicrobial textile finishes using herbs

431-436<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">Various herbal species were screened for their antimicrobial activities by employing preliminary (qualitative) antimicrobial tests. Methanolic extraction procedure was followed for extracting the active substances from herbs. Antimicrobial efficacy was assayed by AATCC (agar diffusion and parallel streak) method and Hohenstein modified challenge test. The neem leaves <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Azadirachta indica), <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">prickly chaff flower <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Achyranthus aspera), <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">tulsi leaves <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Ocimum basilicum) <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">and pomegranate rind <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">(Punica granatum) <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">were found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against the strains of <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">Staphylococcus aureus<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H"> <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">and <span style="font-size: 16.0pt;font-family:Fd1765337-Identity-H;mso-hansi-font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd1765337-Identity-H">E.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H">coli<span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd656258-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family: Fd656258-Identity-H">. <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">Neem ranked first followed by pomegranate and prickly chaff flower. Despite the negative results of tulsi in the qualitative tests, it showed <span style="font-size:16.0pt; font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H;mso-bidi-font-family:Fd1490491-Identity-H">73% <span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H; mso-bidi-font-family:Fd609099-Identity-H">bacterial reduction in the quantitative challenge test. The treated fabric samples exhibited resistance to degradability as tested by digging soil test. </span