Water

Research

32 pages, 13974 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Remote Sensing Techniques and Meteorological Data to Assess the Ideal Irrigation System Performance Scenarios for Improving Crop Productivity

by Heman Abdulkhaleq A. Gaznayee, Sara H. Zaki, Ayad M. Fadhil Al-Quraishi, Payman Hussein Aliehsan, Kawa K. Hakzi, Hawar Abdulrzaq S. Razvanchy, Michel Riksen and Karrar Mahdi

Water 2023, 15(8), 1605; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081605 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5587

Abstract

To increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security, it is important to understand the reasons for variations in irrigation over time. However, researchers often avoid investigating water productivity due to data availability challenges. This study aimed to assess the performance of the irrigation [...] Read more.

To increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security, it is important to understand the reasons for variations in irrigation over time. However, researchers often avoid investigating water productivity due to data availability challenges. This study aimed to assess the performance of the irrigation system for winter wheat crops using a high-resolution satellite, Sentinel 2 A/B, combined with meteorological data and Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based remote sensing techniques. The study area is located north of Erbil city in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI) and consists of 143 farmer-owned center pivots. This study also aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of key variables (Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Precipitation (mm), Evapotranspiration (ETo), Crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and Irrigation (Hours), during the wheat-growing winter season in the drought year 2021 to understand the reasons for the variance in field performance. The finding revealed that water usage fluctuated significantly across the seasons, while yield gradually increased from the 2021 winter season. In addition, the study revealed a notable correlation between soil moisture based on the (NDMI) and vegetation cover based on the (NDVI), and the increase in yield productivity and reduction in the yield gap, specifically during the middle of the growing season (March and April). Integrating remote sensing with meteorological data in supplementary irrigation systems can improve agriculture and water resource management by boosting yields, improving crop quality, decreasing water consumption, and minimizing environmental impacts. This innovative technique can potentially enhance food security and promote environmental sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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21 pages, 2801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting Applications in the West Bank, Palestine

by Johanna E. M. Schild, Luuk Fleskens, Michel Riksen and Sameer Shadeed

Water 2023, 15(6), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061023 - 8 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3505

Abstract

Freshwater resources are uncertain in Palestine and their uncertainty is expected to intensify due to climate change and the political situation. Yet, in this region, a stable freshwater supply is vital for domestic and agricultural uses. Rainwater harvesting could help to increase freshwater [...] Read more.

Freshwater resources are uncertain in Palestine and their uncertainty is expected to intensify due to climate change and the political situation. Yet, in this region, a stable freshwater supply is vital for domestic and agricultural uses. Rainwater harvesting could help to increase freshwater availability. This study investigates the economic feasibility of two rainwater harvesting applications in the West Bank, with eyebrow terracing in olive groves in rural areas and domestic rooftop harvesting in urban areas. Cost-effectiveness is estimated using a spatially explicit cost–benefit analysis. Three land zones varying in suitability for the implementation of eyebrow terracing in olive groves are analyzed. The potential increase in olive yield is estimated with a crop–water balance model. The potential amount of rainfall that can be harvested with domestic rooftop harvesting is calculated based on the average rooftop area for each of the 11 governorates individually. Costs and benefits are considered at the household level to calculate the economic feasibility of these two applications. Although eyebrow terracing enlarges soil moisture availability for olive trees and thereby increases olive yield by about 10–14%, construction costs are too high to make implementation cost-effective. Similarly, rooftop harvesting can harvest about 30% on average of the annual domestic water demand and is worthwhile in the northern and southern governorates. Yet, in this case, construction costs are generally too high to be cost-effective. This obstructs more widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting in the West Bank, which is urgently needed given the large impacts of climate change. Providing subsidies for rainwater harvesting could help to make adoption more attractive for households. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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11 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rainwater Catchment System Reliability Analysis for Al Abila Dam in Iraq’s Western Desert

by Ammar Adham, Rasha Abed, Karrar Mahdi, Waqed H. Hassan, Michel Riksen and Coen Ritsema

Water 2023, 15(5), 944; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15050944 - 1 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2186

Abstract

Rainwater Catchment System Reliability (RCSR) is the chance that a system will deliver the required water for an interval of time. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is gaining popularity as a potential alternative water source for household or agricultural use. The reliability of the Al [...] Read more.

Rainwater Catchment System Reliability (RCSR) is the chance that a system will deliver the required water for an interval of time. Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) is gaining popularity as a potential alternative water source for household or agricultural use. The reliability of the Al Abila dam in the western desert of Iraq was analyzed using a water budget simulation model and two explanations of reliability, time-based reliability, and volumetric reliability. To evaluate rainwater harvesting system performance, comprehensive software utilizing a method for everyday water balance using data from 20 years of daily rainfall. According to the findings, volumetric reliability, and for the three climate scenarios (wet, average, and dry year), increased as the storage volume increased until a threshold accrued on the storage capacity of 11.7 × 10⁵ m³. While time-based reliability shows an increase up to a storage volume of 10.2 × 10⁵ m³. Volumetric reliability of roughly 34–75% may be achieved, while only 14–28% time-based reliability may be achieved. Water saving efficiency decreases with increasing demand fraction, while the runoff coefficient has no significant influence on water effectiveness. While growing storage fraction value increases the effectiveness of water conservation and the value of the runoff coefficient influences the water saving efficiency. For both cases, water saving efficiency for the dam does not reach 50%. Using daily rainfall data, the technique given in this paper might be applied to predict water savings and the RWH systems’ reliability in different arid and semi-arid areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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15 pages, 3561 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Artificial (Pond) Recharge on the Salinity and Groundwater Level in Al-Dibdibba Aquifer in Iraq Using Treated Wastewater

by Waqed H. Hassan, Abdulnoor A. J. Ghanim, Karrar Mahdi, Ammar Adham, Fatima A. Mahdi, Basim K. Nile, Michel Riksen and Coen Ritsema

Water 2023, 15(4), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040695 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3364

Abstract

Groundwater is one of the most important water resources in Iraq, so efficient management of storage, recharge, and consumption rates is required, for maintaining the sustainability of groundwater supplies. Some of the most valuable methods for ensuring the long-term sustainability of groundwater aquifers [...] Read more.

Groundwater is one of the most important water resources in Iraq, so efficient management of storage, recharge, and consumption rates is required, for maintaining the sustainability of groundwater supplies. Some of the most valuable methods for ensuring the long-term sustainability of groundwater aquifers are those that provide artificial recharge. This study was conducted to determine the effect of artificial recharge on groundwater levels and quality in Iraq’s Dibdibba unconfined aquifer, utilizing groundwater modeling system software (GMS). Reclaimed water (tertiary treatment) from Kerbala’s central wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was used as raw water to recharge the aquifer. The effects of this artificial recharge were determined using built-up groundwater flow (MODFLOW) and dissolved transport (MT3DMS) simulation models. Model calibration and validation were implemented based on groundwater monitoring data from 2016 to 2017. The model matched observed elevations at R² = 0.96 for steady state and R² = 0.92 in transient state simulations. After the 3D numerical model was calibrated and validated, two scenarios were explored based on the daily production of 5000 and 10,000 m³/d from Karbala’s WWTP. The results indicated that the pumping of the treated wastewater through the pond would increase water levels by more than 20 cm for more than 78.2 and 110 km² for pumping rates of 5000 and 10,000 m³/day, respectively. More than 40 km² would be added (reclaimed) to the agricultural areas in the region as a result of the use of artificial recharge using a pond. Groundwater quality was also improved, as the TDS decreased by more than 55%, down to 1900 ppm, and the EC decreased by more than 68%, down to 1500 µ.S/cm. The findings of this study can assist decision-makers in developing strategies to reduce water scarcity and adapt to climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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29 pages, 5735 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drought Severity and Frequency Analysis Aided by Spectral and Meteorological Indices in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

by Heman Abdulkhaleq A. Gaznayee, Ayad M. Fadhil Al-Quraishi, Karrar Mahdi, Joseph P. Messina, Sara H. Zaki, Hawar Abdulrzaq S. Razvanchy, Kawa Hakzi, Lorenz Huebner, Snoor H. Ababakr, Michel Riksen and Coen Ritsema

Water 2022, 14(19), 3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193024 - 26 Sep 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4374

Abstract

In the past two decades, severe drought has been a recurrent problem in Iraq due in part to climate change. Additionally, the catastrophic drop in the discharge of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries has aggravated the drought situation in Iraq, [...] Read more.

In the past two decades, severe drought has been a recurrent problem in Iraq due in part to climate change. Additionally, the catastrophic drop in the discharge of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries has aggravated the drought situation in Iraq, which was formerly one of the most water-rich nations in the Middle East. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) also has catastrophic drought conditions. This study analyzed a Landsat time-series dataset from 1998 to 2021 to determine the drought severity status in the KRI. The Modified Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI2) and Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) were used as spectral-based drought indices to evaluate the severity of the drought and study the changes in vegetative cover, water bodies, and precipitation. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Spatial Coefficient of Variation (CV) were used as meteorologically based drought indices. According to this study, the study area had precipitation deficits and severe droughts in 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2021. The MSAVI2 results indicated that the vegetative cover decreased by 36.4%, 39.8%, and 46.3% in 2000, 2008, and 2012, respectively. The SPI’s results indicated that the KRI experienced droughts in 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2021, while the southeastern part of the KRI was most affected by drought in 2008. In 2012, the KRI’s western and southern parts were also considerably affected by drought. Furthermore, Lake Dukan (LD), which lost 63.9% of its surface area in 1999, experienced the most remarkable shrinkage among water bodies. Analysis of the geographic distribution of the CV of annual precipitation indicated that the northeastern parts, which get much more precipitation, had less spatial rainfall variability and more uniform distribution throughout the year than other areas. Moreover, the southwest parts exhibited a higher fluctuation in annual spatial variation. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between MSAVI2, SPI, NDWI, and agricultural yield-based vegetation cover. The results also revealed that low precipitation rates are always associated with declining crop yields and LD shrinkage. These findings may be concluded to provide policymakers in the KRI with a scientific foundation for agricultural preservation and drought mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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22 pages, 8842 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Groundwater Quality Evaluation and the Validity for Agriculture Exploitation in the Erbil Plain in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

by Shwan Seeyan, Haifa Akrawi, Mohammad Alobaidi, Karrar Mahdi, Michel Riksen and Coen Ritsema

Water 2022, 14(18), 2783; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182783 - 7 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3131

Abstract

Climate change and the fast growth of industrial and agricultural enterprises can have a negative impact on groundwater quality. The evaluation of groundwater quality is an important issue to determine the suitability of water for agriculture and other purposes in the Kurdistan Region [...] Read more.

Climate change and the fast growth of industrial and agricultural enterprises can have a negative impact on groundwater quality. The evaluation of groundwater quality is an important issue to determine the suitability of water for agriculture and other purposes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The quality of water is an important indicator for selecting the best Climate Smart Agriculture practices that can be applied in the region. Industrial and agricultural enterprises use massive amounts of groundwater pollutants such as fertilizers and pesticides, especially in the agriculture sectors. Groundwater samples were collected from varying depths of 110 to 200 m for chemical and physical analysis to determine water availability and quality as well as the effect of water use and of drought on groundwater level fluctuation in Erbil City. The analysis includes pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, total dissolved solids, major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and major anions (SO₄²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, CO₃⁻). The high TDS value is founded in the central part of the study area according to groundwater flow which originates from the mountain area toward the center of the plain. The results of the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) shows that all water well samples are suitable for irrigation which have a low sodium hazard and use on sodium sensitive crops must be cautioned against, and the sodium hazard shows that there is no toxic effect on the plants because all the groundwater samples fall in the standard limits of sodium percent, which is less than 60%. The sodium hazard is low, based on RSC results, because it falls below the standard limit which is less than 1.5 meq/L. All groundwater samples are classified as having excellent-to-good permeability. The classification of the potential salinity of groundwater samples shows that nine water samples are in the class excellent-to-good, three water samples are good-to-injurious, and four samples are injurious-to-unsatisfactory. The water type in the area is mostly sulfate except for three samples, two of which are of the chloride type and the third is bicarbonate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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13 pages, 6098 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Assessing Suitable Techniques for Rainwater Harvesting Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Methods and GIS Techniques

by Ammar Adham, Michel Riksen, Rasha Abed, Sameer Shadeed and Coen Ritsema

Water 2022, 14(13), 2110; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132110 - 1 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3524

Abstract

The objective of this study is to produce suitability maps for potential rainwater harvesting techniques (RWHT) in the West Bank (WB), Palestine. These techniques aim to reduce water scarcity, which is a major problem for the conservation of water resources in the area. [...] Read more.

The objective of this study is to produce suitability maps for potential rainwater harvesting techniques (RWHT) in the West Bank (WB), Palestine. These techniques aim to reduce water scarcity, which is a major problem for the conservation of water resources in the area. Based on literature reviews and expert recommendations, seven RWHts were selected (runoff basin system, contour ridges, cisterns, eyebrow terrace, check dam, on-farm pond, and bench terraces). Analysis methods performed in the Arc GIS environment include spatial analysis and data reclassification. Other calculations include multi-criteria analysis for assigning suitability. Five criteria (rainfall, runoff, land use, slope, and soil texture) for RWHt were analyzed to produce a suitability map for each technique. The results show that runoff basin systems in the northeast and southwest of WB are the most suitable, with about 50% of the area of WB moderately suitable for this technique, while 70% of the area of WB is very suitable for the contour ridge technique. Furthermore, this analysis shows that almost 50% of the WB is very suitable for cisterns. Sixty percent of the area is very suitable for on-farm puddling, especially in the north and southwest of WB. The areas with high suitability for the different techniques comprehensively cover the WB, as shown in the RWHt suitability maps and the integrated map. Nevertheless, this approach can help decision makers in making an initial selection of RWH techniques suitable for their region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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13 pages, 2592 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Automatic Water Control System and Environment Sensors in a Greenhouse

by Yousif Yakoub Hilal, Montaser Khairie Khessro, Jos van Dam and Karrar Mahdi

Water 2022, 14(7), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071166 - 6 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5923

Abstract

Iraqi greenhouses require an active microcontroller system to ensure a suitable microclimate for crop production. At the same time, reliable and timely Water Consumption Rate (WCR) forecasts provide an essential means to reduce the amount of water loss and maintain the environmental conditions [...] Read more.

Iraqi greenhouses require an active microcontroller system to ensure a suitable microclimate for crop production. At the same time, reliable and timely Water Consumption Rate (WCR) forecasts provide an essential means to reduce the amount of water loss and maintain the environmental conditions inside the greenhouses. The Arduino micro-controller system is tested to determine its effectiveness in controlling the WCR, Temperature (T), Relative Humidity (RH), and Irrigation Time (IT) levels and improving plant growth rates. The Arduino micro-controller system measurements are compared with the traditional methods to determine the quality of the work of the new control system. The development of mathematical models relies on T, RH, and IT indicators. Based on the results, the new system proves to reliably identify the amount of WCR, IT, T, and RH necessary for plant growth. A t-test for the values from the Arduino microcontroller system and traditional devices for both conditions show no significant difference. This means that there is solid evidence that the WCR, IT, T, and RH levels for these two groups are no different. In addition, the linear, two-factor interaction (2FI), and quadratic models display acceptable performance very well since multiple coefficients of determination (R²) reached 0.962, 0.969, and 0.977% with IT, T, and RH as the predictor variables. This implies that 96.9% of the variability in the WCR is explained by the model. Therefore, it is possible to predict weekly WCR 14 weeks in advance with reasonable accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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29 pages, 9000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Geospatial Approach for Analysis of Drought Impacts on Vegetation Cover and Land Surface Temperature in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

by Heman Abdulkhaleq A. Gaznayee, Ayad M. Fadhil Al-Quraishi, Karrar Mahdi and Coen Ritsema

Water 2022, 14(6), 927; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14060927 - 16 Mar 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5909

Abstract

Drought is a common event in Iraq’s climate, and the country has severely suffered from drought episodes in the last two decades. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is geographically situated in the semi-arid zone in Iraq, whose water resources have been limited [...] Read more.

Drought is a common event in Iraq’s climate, and the country has severely suffered from drought episodes in the last two decades. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is geographically situated in the semi-arid zone in Iraq, whose water resources have been limited in the last decades and mostly shared with other neighboring countries. To analyze drought impacts on the vegetation cover and the land surface temperature in the KRI for a span of 20 years from 1998 to 2017, remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been adopted in this study. For this study, 120 Landsat satellite images were downloaded and utilized, whereas six images covering the entire study area were used for each year of the study period. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surfaces Temperature Index (LST) were applied to produce multi-temporal classified drought maps. Changes in the area and values of the classified NDVI and LST were calculated and mapped. Mann–Kendall and Sen’s Slope statistical tests were used to assess the variability of drought indices variation in 60 locations in the study area. The results revealed increases in severity and frequency of drought over the study period, particularly in the years 2000 and 2008, which were characterized by an increase in land surface temperatures, a decrease in vegetation area cover, and a lack of precipitation averages. Climate conditions affect the increase/decrease of the vegetated cover area, and geographical variability is also one factor that significantly influences the distribution of vegetation. It can be concluded that the southeast and southwestern parts of the KRI were subjected to the most severe droughts over the past 20 years. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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12 pages, 2488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of the Al-Abila Dam in the Western Desert of Iraq

by Ammar Adham, Shwan Seeyan, Rasha Abed, Karrar Mahdi, Michel Riksen and Coen Ritsema

Water 2022, 14(4), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14040586 - 15 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2465

Abstract

Water scarcity is a major problem in the arid climate of Iraq’s Western Desert and people struggle to manage the precarious water supply. Harvesting rainwater is one sustainable method that can be used to increase the supply of water. Rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) [...] Read more.

Water scarcity is a major problem in the arid climate of Iraq’s Western Desert and people struggle to manage the precarious water supply. Harvesting rainwater is one sustainable method that can be used to increase the supply of water. Rainwater harvesting systems (RWH) are considered to be sustainable “if they can continue collecting, utilising, and consuming natural water resources for maximum livelihood development”. This study assessed the sustainably of the Al- Abila dam in Iraq’s Western Desert by determining its level of functionality in harvesting water and using it effectively. The reliability of the water supply and its potential productivity and water use efficiency were investigated as well. The balancing storage at the end of each runoff shows that dam storage of this magnitude is insufficient to fulfil the water demand. This research highlighted constraints that have affected system functioning or sustainability and provided suggestions and recommendations for risk-managed rainwater harvesting system installation methods and designs. The water conveyance factor and adequacy of the system were low, with 60% conveyance losses. This research helps policymakers to conduct large-scale, high-level assessments and answer basic problems about small earth dam development and management in Anbar’s Western Desert. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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19 pages, 5132 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Feasibility Assessment of Potential Artificial Recharge for Increasing Agricultural Areas in the Kerbala Desert in Iraq Using Numerical Groundwater Modeling

by Waqed H. Hassan, Basim K. Nile, Karrar Mahdi, Jan Wesseling and Coen Ritsema

Water 2021, 13(22), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223167 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 4196

Abstract

Groundwater in Iraq is considered to be an alternative water resource, especially for areas far away from surface water. Groundwater is affected by many factors including climate change, industrial activities, urbanization, and industrialization. In this study, the effect of artificial recharge on the [...] Read more.

Groundwater in Iraq is considered to be an alternative water resource, especially for areas far away from surface water. Groundwater is affected by many factors including climate change, industrial activities, urbanization, and industrialization. In this study, the effect of artificial recharge on the quantity of groundwater in the Dibdibba unconfined aquifer in Iraq was simulated using a groundwater modeling system (GMS). The main raw water source used in the artificial recharge process was the reclaimed water output (tertiary treatment) from the main wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Kerbala, with 20 injection wells. After calibration and validation of the three-dimensional numerical model used in this study and taking wastewater recharge rates into account, two different scenarios were applied to obtain the expected behavior of the aquifer when the groundwater levels were augmented with 5% and 10% of the daily outflow production of the WWTP in Kerbala. The model matched the observed head elevations with R² = 0.951 for steady state and R²= 0.894 for transient simulations. The results indicate that the injection of treated water through 20 wells raised the water table in more than 91 and 136 km² for 5000 and 10,000 m³/day pumping rates, respectively. Moreover, increasing the volume of water added to the aquifer could lead to establishing new agricultural areas, spanning more than 62 km², extending about 20 km along the river. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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47 pages, 11628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water Quality, Availability, and Uses in Rural Communities in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

by Shwan Seeyan, Ammar Adham, Karrar Mahdi and Coen Ritsema

Water 2021, 13(20), 2927; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202927 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5268

Abstract

Water resource management and the investigation of the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water is important in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The growing population, as well as agricultural and industrial projects, consume huge amounts of water, especially groundwater. A total [...] Read more.

Water resource management and the investigation of the quality and quantity of groundwater and surface water is important in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The growing population, as well as agricultural and industrial projects, consume huge amounts of water, especially groundwater. A total of 572 ground and surface water samples were collected for physicochemical analysis to determine the availability and quality of the water in the Kurdistan region. The physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids were analyzed to evaluate the suitability of the water for different purposes like livestock, irrigation, and agriculture. GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to determine the suitability map of water for irrigation purposes. Most of the groundwater samples were suitable for irrigation except for some samples from Erbil City, especially those taken in the Makhmur district, and samples from some small areas in the cities of Sulaymania and Duhok. All groundwater samples were acceptable for all types of agricultural crops, except for 15 well samples that were determined not to be usable for fruit crops. However, this water was acceptable for livestock and poultry. Most of the water wells provided freshwater except for 36 deep wells, which supplied slightly brackish to brackish water. Water samples were found to have low to medium salinity levels except for 26 well samples and one spring sample that had high salinity levels, and 2 well samples with very high salinity levels. Most of the samples had an excellent to good water classification except for 85 samples classified as permissible, 8 classified as doubtful, and 4 classified as unsuitable for irrigation according to the Todd classification. According to the Rhoades classification, all water samples were non-saline to slightly saline except for 11 samples that were moderately saline. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Management for Climate Smart Agriculture)

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