ABSTRACT
Irrigation water quality can have a profound impact on crop production inasmuch as irrigated agriculture can affect groundwater quality. Irrigated agriculture not only involves the application of water, which contains dissolved mineral elements, but is often coupled with other inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. Many of these constituents can leach past the crop rootzone and pollute the underlying aquifer. Other chapters in the Encyclopedia will address impacts of irrigated agriculture on groundwater quality. The emphasis of this chapter is on groundwater quality, and its potential impacts on irrigated agriculture.
