Evaluation of Abu Zirig Marshwater quality for irrigation

Abstract

This study aimed at assessing the quality of irrigation water sourced from Abu ZirigMarsh is located in east of al Nasiriyah city in southern Iraq from September 2019 to January 2020.The quality of the available water must be tested to check its fitness prior to use for irrigation.The collected samples were analyzed chemically, these chemical parameters are Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, K+, Cl-,HCO3, NiO3-,SO42-, TDS, TSS, pH, EC, turbidity, alkalinity, salinity, SAR,Na%,TH,Kelley ratio, boron concentration, MAR%andPIare important parameters in determining water quality for irrigation, since they are directly associated to the concentration of salt in water. Hence, high values of these parameters cause low water quality indices. It was found that nitrate; calcium, magnesium, sulfate and chloride are the most influential inputs on TDS while calcium, magnesium, sulfate and chloride are the most effective on EC. The results of the current study showed that the water of Abu Zirig marsh is unsuitable for irrigation under normal conditions, ituse only in the case of soils with highpermeability and good drainage and it is less dangerousfor crops that are very tolerant to salinity.