TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation in the arid regions using irrigation water quality index (IWQI) and GIS-Zoning maps
T2 - Case study from Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE
AU - Batarseh, Mufeed
AU - Imreizeeq, Emad
AU - Tilev, Seyda
AU - Al Alaween, Mohammad
AU - Suleiman, Wael
AU - Al Remeithi, Abdulla Mohammed
AU - Al Tamimi, Mansoor Khamees
AU - Al Alawneh, Majdy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - The present study developed an Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) and GIS-Zoning maps for assessing groundwater resources for irrigation purposes in Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE. The calculated IWQI values varied from 8.78 to 77.44 and 52% of the samples categorized under severe irrigation restrictions, where groundwater can be used for irrigation of high salt tolerance plants only. While, 44% of the investigated wells located within the high restriction category, 3% within moderate restriction, 1% within the low irrigation restriction category, and 0% within unrestricted category. Moreover, Wilcox and USSL diagrams confirmed IWQI results as the groundwater was classified mostly as unsuitable for irrigation purposes without prior treatment. It shows that waters classified either as Permissible to Doubtful or Good to Permissible are forming only 3% of the overall investigated wells and are located east to Abu Dhabi Emirate along the border with Oman. While, none of the samples fall in Excellent to Good region. Moreover, the combination of the irrigation water quality parameters such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Ratio (%Na), Chloride concentration, and Permeability Index (PI) provided a guidance for evaluating the problems that might be developed in soil due to current irrigation practices in the study area. The spatial distribution (GIS zoning-map) of the IWQI provided a clear visualization of irrigation groundwater quality in the study area and can be used along with other water quality parameters and indices as useful tools for the decision makers to identify the “Red Zones” that suffer from over-extraction and as a guide for action toward a sustainable groundwater management plan for agriculture purposes. Additionally, GIS maps can be used as a guide to recommend the range of suitable crops that can be cultivated and used for the range of soils in the study area.
AB - The present study developed an Irrigation Water Quality Index (IWQI) and GIS-Zoning maps for assessing groundwater resources for irrigation purposes in Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE. The calculated IWQI values varied from 8.78 to 77.44 and 52% of the samples categorized under severe irrigation restrictions, where groundwater can be used for irrigation of high salt tolerance plants only. While, 44% of the investigated wells located within the high restriction category, 3% within moderate restriction, 1% within the low irrigation restriction category, and 0% within unrestricted category. Moreover, Wilcox and USSL diagrams confirmed IWQI results as the groundwater was classified mostly as unsuitable for irrigation purposes without prior treatment. It shows that waters classified either as Permissible to Doubtful or Good to Permissible are forming only 3% of the overall investigated wells and are located east to Abu Dhabi Emirate along the border with Oman. While, none of the samples fall in Excellent to Good region. Moreover, the combination of the irrigation water quality parameters such as Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Sodium Ratio (%Na), Chloride concentration, and Permeability Index (PI) provided a guidance for evaluating the problems that might be developed in soil due to current irrigation practices in the study area. The spatial distribution (GIS zoning-map) of the IWQI provided a clear visualization of irrigation groundwater quality in the study area and can be used along with other water quality parameters and indices as useful tools for the decision makers to identify the “Red Zones” that suffer from over-extraction and as a guide for action toward a sustainable groundwater management plan for agriculture purposes. Additionally, GIS maps can be used as a guide to recommend the range of suitable crops that can be cultivated and used for the range of soils in the study area.
KW - Abu dhabi
KW - GIS
KW - Groundwater
KW - IWQI
KW - Sustainable Water Management
KW - UAE
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85107942053
U2 - 10.1016/j.gsd.2021.100611
DO - 10.1016/j.gsd.2021.100611
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107942053
SN - 2352-801X
VL - 14
JO - Groundwater for Sustainable Development
JF - Groundwater for Sustainable Development
M1 - 100611
ER -
