Salinity Studies for Evaluation of Irrigation Suitability Status of Tsunami Affected Regions of South India

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Babu, S. Madhan | Pradeep, S. | Shyamala, A. | Das, Ashutosh

Affiliations: School of Civil Engineering, SASTRA, Deemed University, Thanjavur-613402 (India)

Note: [] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Tsunami affected coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, India, were investigated for soil salinity to estimate their suitability for irrigation. Due to the tsunami of December 26, 2004 and subsequent submergence of coastal regions of India the resultant salt water intrusion there has led to a significant increase in salinity in both soil and waterbodies in the regions. The present research is aimed at exploring the current status of water and soil salinity, and their possible effect on the yield of the irrigation crops. Studies were carried out between Nagapattinam to Vedaranyam, the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu (India) and the region which is reported to have one of the maximum casualties, due to the recent tsunami. The results show a variable concentration of sodium level in the salinity indicating the different degree of irrigation suitability. Contours of water salinity, soil salinity, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and yield percentage of crop were drawn using ArcGIS 8.0; thus generated digitized maps provide a clearer picture of the above parameters.

Keywords: Tsunami, salinity, crop yield, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC)

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 71-83, 2007