Affiliations: Basic Sciences Department, University of Malawi, Bunda
College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi | 1Natural Resources Management Department, University
of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi
Abstract: A study was carried out to assess the water quality of incoming,
outgoing and a receiving stream water from a furrow irrigated sugar plantation.
pH did not vary significantly at the three sampling points in the rainy season,
but differences were observed in the dry season with incoming water having the
highest value (p < 0.05) and outgoing water the least. Dissolved solids were
highest (p < 0.05) in the incoming water in both seasons while in the rainy
season, the lowest value was in the outgoing water. In the rainy season,
sulphate and phosphate were higher (p < 0.05) in the incoming water while
the amounts in the outgoing water and in the stream did not differ. Water
hardness was highest in the outgoing and lowest in the incoming water in both
seasons. Chloride was highest (p < 0.05) in the outgoing water in both
seasons and the values in the incoming water and in the stream did not differ.
Nitrate was higher in outgoing water compared to the incoming and stream water
in the rainy season, while in the dry season, the concentration was highest in
the stream. Copper was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the incoming water
compared to the other points in the two seasons. All the parameters were below
the standard limits and this demonstrated that the threat to water quality in
the stream was minimal. The scheme may still cause some grave impact in the
receiving stream, such that in a few years, serious water quality deterioration
could take place.
Keywords: Chemical parameters, farmland, pollution, water, season
