Irrigation Water Quality

The standard irrigation water quality analyses show at least the values of EC, pHThe main cations (Na, K, Mg and Ca) and the main anions (Cl, HCO3, SO4, NO3), as well as others such as:

• Hardness, sum of ions that can precipitate, sum of Calcium, Magnesium and even Iron. Expressed in meq/L or mg CaCO3/L. They can also be expressed as degrees of hardness, where 100 mg CaCO3/L = 1 mmol CaCO3/L = 2 meq Ca/L. Each French degree is equivalent to 10 mg CaCO3/L .
• SARSodium adsorption Ratio (RAS, Sodium adsorption ratio)
• ESPExchangeable sodium percentage (PSI, Percentage of exchangeable sodium)
• RSC, Residual sodium carbonate
• Eh, redox potential, expressed in Volt, measured with cobalt and platinum reference electrode.
• Langelier index, fouling or aggressive character of water
• Alkalinity, acidity neutralising ability
• Acidity, neutralising capacity of bases
• TIC, total inorganic carbon
• TOC, total organic carbon
• COD, chemical oxygen demand
• BOD, biological oxygen demand

The graphical visualisation can be done through the Piper diagrams,

Two triangles give the relative compositions of cations and anions, expressed as percentages of the total cations and/or anions in meq/L.

In general, there are two types of analytical errors: statistical errors due to analytical procedures and systematic errors due to interferences in the analysis. 

Statistical or precision errors can be calculated by repeat analysis of the same sample and systematic errors by analysis of reference samples and by inter-laboratory comparison.

The The accuracy of the analysis for the majority ions can be estimated through an electrical balance, as the sum of the positive and negative charges must be similar:

Electrical balance(%)=[(Sum of cations + Sum of anions)/(Sum of cations - Sum of anions)] x 100

Values are to be given in meq/L.

We offer studies of ionic speciation, calculation of saturation rates - irrigation water acidification requirements and even optimisation of irrigation water mixtures.

• Audit and monitoring service for sports grounds.
• Reading of laboratory analyses.
• Online support service.

At Tiloom we have developed an innovative pumping monitoring system. Rigometer allows you to control all the variables of a pumping system, from energy consumption to pressures at strategic points to all water quality parameters from pH to ORP potential.

Intelligent pumping