QUALIDADE DE ÁGUA DE POÇOS TUBULARES UTILIZADA NO CULTIVO DE HORTALIÇAS

Abstract

Water is an irreplaceable good, it is the main resource that allows life and development of the living beings (animals and plants). The agricultural sector is responsible for consuming the largest amount of good quality water in the world, mainly for irrigation of large fruit areas, annual crops and horticulture. The vegetable cycle is relatively short, thus requiring careful handling in order to guarantee the product quality. The water used in these production systems must meet the quality criteria, aiming at the preservation of the soil and prioritizing the harvesting of vegetables without damage or contamination. Due to the problem of water scarcity in the Northeast, the use of groundwater has been increasing, mostly from wells, what justify the importance of the verification of the water quality, since these are the most faced problems related to the possible contamination of the soil. Based on that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the groundwater quality from deep non-draft tubular wells, used for irrigation of vegetables, in the rural area of the city of Areia (Paraíba). The following parameters were evaluated: pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, carbon dioxide, chlorides, hardness, turbidity, temperature, Ca2+, Na+ and K+, and residual chlorine. From the obtained results, it was observed that the physical-chemical parameters evaluated in the water samples, remained within the limits allowed by the current legislation for irrigation uses and also for human consumption. Moreover, most of the samples were classified as low salinity water, but with high sodium content.