Quality of irrigation water in Vale do Açu - RN

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of the waters of the micro-region of Vale do Açu-RN. Sampling was done in three sources or springs: the dam Engº Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves (Assu-RN), Fazenda Ubarana (Ipanguassu-RN) and the Baixo Assu Project (Alto do Rodrigues-RN), in the period from April 1998 to March 1999, with samples collected from the dam, Amazon well and river, respectively. The analyses were done in the Water and Soil Analysis Laboratory of UFERSA, allowing the classification of the waters as to salinity, sodicity and toxic ions to plants. The results showed that the waters from all the sources analyzed are in condition to be used for irrigation, and that the appropriate management of irrigation is essential to avoid problems arising from the water.