Irrigation Water Quality Criteria

Fact Sheet No. 0.506 C r o p Ser ies| Irrigation

by T.A. Bauder, R.M. Waskom, P.L. Sutherland and J. G. Davis*

Salt-affected soils develop from a wide Irrigation Water Quality Quick Facts
range of factors including: soil type, field Criteria
slope and drainage, irrigation system • Knowledge of irrigation
Soil scientists use the following categories
type and management, fertilizer and water quality is critical to
to describe irrigation water effects on crop
manuring practices, and other soil and understanding management
production and soil quality:
water management practices. In Colorado, for long-term productivity.
• Salinity hazard - total soluble salt content
perhaps the most critical factor in predicting,
• Sodium hazard - relative proportion of • Irrigation water quality is
managing, and reducing salt-affected soils
sodium to calcium and magnesium ions evaluated based upon total
is the quality of irrigation water being used.
• pH - acid or basic
Besides affecting crop yield and soil physical salt content, sodium and
• Alkalinity - carbonate and bicarbonate
conditions, irrigation water quality can affect specific ion toxicities.
• Specific ions: chloride, sulfate, boron, and
fertility needs, irrigation system performance
nitrate. • In many areas of Colorado,
and longevity, and how the water can be
Another potential irrigation water quality irrigation water quality can
applied. Therefore, knowledge of irrigation
impairment that may affect suitability for influence crop productivity
water quality is critical to understanding what
cropping systems is microbial pathogens. more than soil fertility, hybrid,
management changes are necessary for long-
term productivity. weed control and other
Salinity Hazard factors.

Table 1. General guidelines for salinity hazard

of irrigation water based upon conductivity.
Limitations for Electrical
use Conductivity
(dS/m)*
None ≤ 0.75
Some 0.76 - 1.5
Moderate1 1.51 - 3.00
Severe 2
≥ 3.00
*dS/m at 25° C = mmhos/cm
1
Leaching required at higher range.
2
Good drainage needed and sensitive plants may
have difficulty at germination.

The most influential water quality

guideline on crop productivity is the water
salinity hazard as measured by electrical
conductivity (ECw). The primary effect of
high ECw water on crop productivity is the
inability of the plant to compete with ions
Corn plant damaged by saline sprinkler
water. in the soil solution for water (physiological
drought). The higher the EC, the less water
is available to plants, even though the soil
may appear wet. Because plants can only
transpire “pure” water, usable plant water in
*
T.A. Bauder, Colorado State University Extension
the soil solution decreases dramatically as EC
water quality specialist; R.M. Waskom, director, ©Colorado State University
Colorado Water Institute; P.L. Sutherland, USDA/
increases.
Extension. 7/03. Revised 5/11.
NRCS area resource conservationist; and J.G. Actual yield reductions from irrigating
Davis, Extension soils specialist and professor, soil with high EC water varies substantially. www.ext.colostate.edu
and crop sciences. 5/2011
Table 2. Potential yield reduction from saline water for selected irrigated crops.1
% yield reduction Definitions
Crop 0% 10% 25% 50%
Abbrev. Meaning
————————— ECw2—————————
Barley 5.3 6.7 8.7 12 mg/L milligrams per liter
Wheat 4.0 4.9 6.4 8.7 meq/L milliequivalents per liter
Sugarbeet 3
4.7 5.8 7.5 10
ppm parts per million
Alfalfa 1.3 2.2 3.6 5.9
Potato 1.1 1.7 2.5 3.9 dS/m deciSiemens per meter
Corn (grain) 1.1 1.7 2.5 3.9 µS/cm microSiemens per
Corn (silage) 1.2 2.1 3.5 5.7
Onion 0.8 1.2 1.8 2.9 centimeter
Dry Beans 0.7 1.0 1.5 2.4 mmho/cm millimhos per centimeter
1
Adapted from “Quality of Water for Irrigation.” R.S. Ayers. Jour. of the Irrig. and Drain. Div., ASCE. TDS total dissolved solids
Vol 103, No. IR2, June 1977, p. 140.
2
ECw = electrical conductivity of the irrigation water in dS/m at 25oC.
3
Sensitive during germination. ECw should not exceed 3 dS/m for garden beets and sugarbeets.
Factors influencing yield reductions include
soil type, drainage, salt type, irrigation
system and management.
The amount of water transpired through
a crop is directly related to yield; therefore,
Table 3. Conversion factors for irrigation water quality laboratory reports. irrigation water with high ECw reduces
To Multiply To yield potential (Table 2). Beyond effects on
Component Convert By Obtain the immediate crop is the long term impact
Water nutrient or TDS mg/L 1.0 ppm of salt loading through the irrigation
Water salinity hazard 1dS/m 1.0 1mmho/cm
Water salinity hazard 1mmho/cm 1,000 1 µmho/cm water. Water with an ECw of 1.15 dS/m
Water salinity hazard ECw (dS/m) 640 TDS (mg/L) contains approximately 2,000 pounds of
for EC <5 dS/m salt for every acre foot of water. You can use
Water salinity hazard ECw (dS/m) 800 TDS (mg/L)
for EC >5 dS/m conversion factors in Table 3 to make this
Water NO3N, SO4-S, B applied ppm 0.23 lb per acre inch calculation for other water EC levels.
of water
Irrigation water acre inch 27,150 gallons of water Other terms that laboratories and
literature sources use to report salinity
hazard are: salts, salinity, electrical
conductivity (ECw), or total dissolved solids
(TDS). These terms are all comparable
and all quantify the amount of dissolved
Table 4. Guidelines for assessment of sodium hazard of irrigation water based on SAR and “salts” (or ions, charged particles) in a
ECw2.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
water sample. However, TDS is a direct
Potential for Water Infiltration Problem measurement of dissolved ions and EC
is an indirect measurement of ions by
Irrigation
water SAR Unlikely Likely an electrode.
-----------ECw2 (dS/m)---------- Although people frequently confuse
0-3 > 0.7 < 0.2 the term “salinity” with common table salt
3-6 > 1.2 < 0.4 or sodium chloride (NaCl), EC measures
6-12 > 1.9 < 0.5
12-20 > 2.9 < 1.0 salinity from all the ions dissolved in a
20-40 > 5.0 < 3.0 sample. This includes negatively charged
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ions (e.g., Cl¯, NO¯3) and positively charged
2
Modified from R.S. Ayers and D.W. Westcot. 1994. Water Quality for Agriculture, Irrigation and
Drainage Paper 29, rev. 1, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. ions (e.g., Ca++, Na+). Another common
source of confusion is the variety of unit
systems used with ECw. The preferred unit
is deciSiemens per meter (dS/m), however
millimhos per centimeter (mmho/cm) and
micromhos per centimeter (µmho/cm)
are still frequently used. Conversions to
Table 5. Susceptibility ranges for crops to foliar injury from saline sprinkler water. help you change between unit systems are
Na or Cl concentration (mg/L) causing foliar injury provided in Table 3.
Na concentration <46 46-230 231-460 >460
Cl concentration <175 175-350 351-700 >700
Apricot Pepper Alfalfa Sugarbeet
Plum Potato Barley Sunflower
Tomato Corn Sorghum
Foliar injury is influenced by cultural and environmental conditions. These data are presented
only as general guidelines for daytime irrigation. Source: Mass (1990) Crop salt tolerance. In:
Agricultural Assessment and Management Manual. K.K. Tanji (ed.). ASCE, New York. pp. 262-304.
Sodium Hazard (HCO3) content, an “adjusted” SAR emitters. In these situations, correction by
(SARADJ) can be calculated. In this case, injecting sulfuric or other acidic materials
the amount of calcium is adjusted for into the system may be required.
Infiltration/Permeability Problems
the water’s alkalinity, is recommended in
Although plant growth is primarily place of the standard SAR (see pH and
limited by the salinity (ECw) level of the Alkalinity section below). Your laboratory Chloride
irrigation water, the application of water may calculate an adjusted SAR in situations Chloride is a common ion in Colorado
with a sodium imbalance can further where the HCO3 is greater than 200 mg/L irrigation waters. Although chloride is
reduce yield under certain soil texture or pH is greater than 8.5. essential to plants in very low amounts,
conditions. Reductions in water infiltration The potential soil infiltration and it can cause toxicity to sensitive crops
can occur when irrigation water contains permeability problems created from at high concentrations (Table 6). Like
high sodium relative to the calcium and applications of irrigation water with high sodium, high chloride concentrations
magnesium contents. This condition, “sodicity” cannot be adequately assessed on cause more problems when applied with
termed “sodicity,” results from excessive soil the basis of the SAR alone. This is because sprinkler irrigation (Table 6). Leaf burn
accumulation of sodium. Sodic water is not under sprinkler from both sodium and
the swelling potential of low salinity (ECw)
the same as saline water. Sodicity causes chloride can be reduced by night time
water is greater than high ECw waters at the
swelling and dispersion of soil clays, surface irrigation or application on cool, cloudy
same sodium content (Table 4). Therefore, a
crusting and pore plugging. This degraded days. Drop nozzles and drag hoses are also
more accurate evaluation of the infiltration/
soil structure condition in turn obstructs recommended when applying any saline
permeability hazard requires using the
infiltration and may increase runoff. irrigation water through a sprinkler system
Sodicity causes a decrease in the downward electrical conductivity (ECw) together with to avoid direct contact with leaf surfaces.
movement of water into and through the the SAR.
soil, and actively growing plants roots may Many factors including soil texture,
Table 6. Chloride classification of irrigation
not get adequate water, despite pooling of organic matter, cropping system, irrigation water.
water on the soil surface after irrigation. system and management affect how sodium Chloride (ppm) Effect on Crops
The most common measure to assess in irrigation water affects soils. Soils most Below 70 Generally safe for all
sodicity in water and soil is called the likely to show reduced infiltration and plants.
Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR). The SAR crusting from water with elevated SAR 70-140 Sensitive plants show
injury.
defines sodicity in terms of the relative (greater than 6) are those containing more 141-350 Moderately tolerant
concentration of sodium (Na) compared to than 30% expansive (smectite) clay. Soils plants show injury.
the sum of calcium (Ca) and magnesium containing more than 30% clay include Above 350 Can cause severe
problems.
(Mg) ions in a sample. The SAR assesses the most soils in the clay loam, silty clay loam
Chloride tolerance of selected crops. Listing in
potential for infiltration problems due to a textural classes and finer and some sandy order of increasing tolerance: (low tolerance)
sodium imbalance in irrigation water. The clay loams. In Colorado, smectite clays dry bean, onion, carrot, lettuce, pepper, corn,
SAR is mathematically written below, where are common in areas with agricultural potato, alfalfa, sudangrass, zucchini squash,
wheat, sorghum, sugar beet, barley (high
production. tolerance). Source: Mass (1990) Crop Salt
Tolerance. Agricultural Salinity Assessment and
Na+ meq/L Management Manual. K.K. Tanji (ed.). ASCE,
SAR = pH and Alkalinity New York. pp 262-304.

√ (Ca++ meq/L) + (Mg++ meq/L)

2
The acidity or basicity of irrigation
water is expressed as pH (< 7.0 acidic; > 7.0
Boron
meq/L = mg/L divided by atomic basic). The normal pH range for irrigation
weight of ion divided by ionic charge water is from 6.5 to 8.4. Abnormally Boron is another element that is
(Na+=23.0 mg/meq, Ca++=20.0 mg/ low pH’s are not common in Colorado, essential in low amounts, but toxic at
but may cause accelerated irrigation higher concentrations (Table 7). In fact,
meq, Mg++=12.15 mg/meq)
system corrosion where they occur. High toxicity can occur on sensitive crops at
pH’s above 8.5 are often caused by high concentrations less than 1.0 ppm. Colorado
bicarbonate (HCO3-) and carbonate (CO32-) soils and irrigation waters contain enough
Na, Ca and Mg are the concentrations B that additional B fertilizer is not required
of these ions in milliequivalents per liter concentrations, known as alkalinity. High
carbonates cause calcium and magnesium in most situations. Because B toxicity
(meq/L). Concentrations of these ions in can occur at such low concentrations, an
water samples are typically provided in ions to form insoluble minerals leaving
sodium as the dominant ion in solution. irrigation water analysis is advised for
milligrams per liter (mg/L). To convert groundwater before applying additional B
Na, Ca, and Mg from mg/L to meq/L, you As described in the sodium hazard
section, this alkaline water could intensify to crops.
should divide the concentration by 22.9, 20,
and 12.15 respectively. the impact of high SAR water on sodic
soil conditions. Excessive bicarbonate
For most irrigation waters encountered Sulfate
in Colorado the standard SAR formula concentrates can also be problematic for
drip or micro-spray irrigation systems The sulfate ion is a major contributor
provided above is suitable to express the to salinity in many of Colorado irrigation
potential sodium hazard. However, for when calcite or scale build up causes
reduced flow rates through orifices or waters. As with boron, sulfate in irrigation
irrigation water with high bicarbonate
Table 7. Boron sensitivity of selected Colorado plants (B concentration, mg/ L*)
Sensitive Moderately Sensitive Moderately Tolerant Tolerant
0.5-0.75 0.76-1.0 1.1-2.0 2.1-4.0 4.1-6.0
Peach Wheat Carrot Lettuce Alfalfa
Onion Barley Potato Cabbage Sugar beet
Sunflower Cucumber Corn Tomato
Dry Bean Oats
Source: Mass (1987) Salt tolerance of plants. CRC Handbook of Plant Science in Agriculture.
B.R. Cristie (ed.). CRC Press Inc.
*Maximum concentrations tolerated in soil water or saturation extract without yield or vegetative
growth reductions. Maximum concentrations in the irrigation water are approximately equal to these
values or slightly less.

water has fertility benefits, and irrigation Summary

water in Colorado often has enough sulfate The quality of irrigation water available
for maximum production for most crops. to farmers and other irrigators has a
Exceptions are sandy fields with <1 percent considerable impact on what plants can
organic matter and <10 ppm SO4-S in be successfully grown, the productivity
irrigation water. of these plants, and water infiltration and
other soil physical conditions. The first
Nitrogen step in understanding how an irrigation
water source can affect a soil-plant system
Nitrogen in irrigation water (N) is
is to have it analyzed by a reputable lab.
largely a fertility issue, and nitrate-nitrogen
The Colorado State University Extension
(NO3-N) can be a significant N source in
factsheet, Selecting an Analytical
the South Platte, San Luis Valley, and parts
Laboratory 0.520 can help you locate a lab
of the Arkansas River basins. The nitrate
in your area that is familiar with irrigation
ion often occurs at higher concentrations
water quality. Additional information on
than ammonium in irrigation water. Waters
understanding and managing for saline and
high in N can cause quality problems
sodic conditions is found in Colorado State
in crops such as barley and sugar beets
University factsheets, Managing Saline Soils
and excessive vegetative growth in some
0.503 and Managing Sodic Soils 0.504.
vegetables. However, these problems can
usually be overcome by good fertilizer and
irrigation management. Regardless of the
crop, nitrate should be credited toward
the fertilizer rate especially when the
concentration exceeds 10 ppm NO3-N (45
ppm NO¯3). Table 3 provides conversions
from ppm to pounds per acre inch.

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Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating.
CSU Extension programs are available to all without
discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned
is intended nor is criticism implied of products not
mentioned.