Assessing the impact of seasonal variability on irrigation water quality and suitability for agricultural use in wet and dry conditions

Marif, Arsalan Azeez (author), Esmail, Akram Othman (author)

This study investigates the seasonal variation in water quality for irrigation from 57 wells in Sulaimani City, using two classification models: Ayers & Westcot (1985) and Maia & Rodrigues (2012). Key water parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), bicarbonates (HCO₃⁻), and (Cl⁻) concentrations were analyzed. Results showed that during the wet season, 45 wells had no restrictions (NR), while 12 had slight to moderate restrictions (S-MR). In the dry season, 29 wells were classified as NR and 28 as S-MR. Water quality was generally favorable for irrigation in the wet season but required management strategies for wells with higher EC and SAR, particularly in the dry season when salinity and ion concentrations increased. The Ayers & Westcot classification reflected seasonal variations in EC, SAR, and bicarbonates, with water quality declining slightly in the dry season, leading to more wells classified as S-MR. Using the Irrigation Water Quality Index by Maia & Rodrigues, some wells shifted from "Good" to "Excellent" in the dry season due to changes in EC levels. These results highlight the need for continuous water quality monitoring and adaptive irrigation management to optimize water use and prevent soil salinization in regions with seasonal variability.

• Language: English
• Keywords: irrigation water quality, EC, pH, season variation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 121, no. 4
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177136
• UDC: 631
• ISSN on article: 1854-1941
• DOI: 10.14720/aas.2025.121.4.21860
• COBISS.SI-ID: 261731587
• Publication date in RUL: 16.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta agriculturae Slovenica
• Publisher: Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za agronomijo in Oddelek za zootehniko, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1854-1941
• COBISS.SI-ID: 219581184

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Ocenjevanje vpliva sezonske spremenljivosti na kakovost vode za namakanje in primernost za kmetijsko uporabo v vlažnih in sušnih razmerah
• Keywords: kakovost vode za namakanje, EC, pH, sezonska nihanja