The Role of Irrigation Water Quality and pH Management in Nutrient Availability and Crop Productivity
1 . Introduction Many farmers in India believe that higher fertilizer application leads to higher crop yields. However, modern agricultural science demonstrates that productivity depends not only on fertilizer quantity but also on nutrient availability, uptake, and utilization efficiency by plants. If irrigation water quality is unsuitable, even expensive fertilizers may fail to deliver their full agronomic potential. Irrigation sources such as wells, borewells, canals, ponds, and rivers may contain varying concentrations of calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), and bicarbonates (HCO₃⁻). Water containing high calcium and magnesium concentrations is generally classified as hard water. When hardness occurs alongside high alkalinity, it can affect fertilizer compatibility, nutrient availability, soil properties, and irrigation-system performance. 2. What Happens When Fertilizers Are Mixed with Hard Water? When water-soluble fertilizers are injected into irrigation water with high alkali...