SALINE GROUND-WATER MANAGEMENT IN MANDA-THANA OF NAOGAON DISTRICT, NWBANGLADESH

The study area is dependent on ground water for irrigation during the dry months of the year as sufficient surface water resources are not a vailable. Occurrence of saline ground water in some parts of the area, particularly at Kashopara and Kasab unions, restricts the use of grou nd water for irrigation purposes. Ground water electrolytic conductivi ty (EC) monitoring and resistivity sounding show a distinct vertical g round water zoning with varying salinity, viz., an upper zone (0-30 m) of relatively fresh Na/CaHCO3-type ground water with EC values <1000 mu S/cm and a lower zone (below 30 m) of NaCl-type (brackish) ground w ater with EC values >2000 mu S/cm. It is suggested that salinity probl ems in the affected area can be managed through minimum abstraction of saline ground water, proper selection of crops, land development and by changing methods of irrigation.