The Islamic University of Gaza- Civil Engineering Department Irrigation and Drainage- ECIV 5327

Lecture 8: Irrigation Water Quality

Prepared by Husam Al-Najar

Physical Parameters used in the evaluation of agricultural water quality Parameters Total dissolved solids Electrical conductivity Temperature Color/turbidity Hardness sediments Symbol TDS EC T Unit mg/l ds/m oC NTU/JTU mg equivalent CaCO3/l g/l

NTU/JTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit/ Jackson Turbidity Unit

Chemical Parameters used in the evaluation of agricultural water quality Parameters Acidity/basicity Type and concentration of anions and cations Calcium Magnesium Sodium Carbonate Bicarbonate Chloride Sulphate Sodium adsorption ratio Boron Trace metals Heavy metals Nitrate-nitrogen Phosphate Potassium Symbol pH Unit

Ca Mg Na CO3 HCO3 Cl SO4 SAR B

mg/l

NO3-N PO4-P K

mg/l

Salinity
All waters used for irrigation contain varying amount of salts Salinization of soil and water is inevitable in climates where ET > precipitation

Thus, drainage, either natural or artificial is essential to manage salts

Key to sustainable irrigated agriculture in arid/semi-arid climates Salinity-total salt content Electrical Conductivity (ECw) Electrical Conductivity of saturated paste extract (EC e or sat)

General Irrigation Water EC Classifications

Class of Water Class 1, excellent TDS (mg/l) < 1000 Electrical conductivity (ds/m) 0.25

Class 2, good
Class 3, permissible Class 4, Doubtful 1000-2000

0.25- 0.75
0.76-2.00 2.01-3.00

Class 5, Unsuitable

2000

3.00

Permissible: leaching is needed if used Doubtful and Unsuitable: good drainage needed and sensitive plants will have difficulty obtaining stand.

Salinity Impact Plants only transpire "pure" water

Salts in irrigation water remain in soil if not leached

Plant

Physiological drought Increased osmotic potential of soil

Specific ion toxicity Leaf burn Nutrient uptake interferences

Crop Selection

Phaseolus bean

Saline sites: salt tolerance genotypic differences in reaction to increasing NaCl supply

sugar beet

Evapotranspiration vs. Salinity

(Gates et al. 2006)

Yield vs. Evapotranspiration

Schneeklothet al, 2004

Relative Yield (%)

ECe

Relative Yield vs. Salinity

(Gates et al 2006)

Salinity effects

Crops classification according to salinity

Salinity rating group

Threshold salinity (dS/m)

Zero yield salinity

Sensitive (almond, apple, apricot, carrot)

Moderately sensitive (corn, grape, pepper, tomatoes) Moderately tolerant (olive, barley) Tolerant (cotton, date palm)

1.4
3.0 6.0 10.0

8.0
16.0 24.0 32.0

Sodicity (sodic) -high sodium content SAR: sodium adsorption ratio

SAR =

Na

++ ++ Ca + Mg 2

Where: Na, Ca, and Mg concentrations must be expressed as meq/l

Generalized Classification of Salt-Affected Soils Classification

Saline Sodic

EC (ds/m)
4.0 4.0

SAR
13 13

pH
8.5 8.5

Saline-Sodic High pH

4.0 4.0

13 13

8.5 7.8

Specific Ion Concerns and Toxicities

Sodium (Na+)

Soil sodicity Crusting

Reduced infiltration Lower hydraulic conductivity Higher pH impacting nutrient uptake Plant

Stunted plants
Toxicity and leaf burn potential

EC and SAR
The hazard of irrigation water sodium on soil infiltration mustbe determined from the SAR/EC interaction.

As EC increases relative to SAR, infiltration problems are reduced.

Rainfall or sprinkler irrigation with non-saline water on soils previously irrigated with sodic water can increase the infiltration problem.

Ayers and Westcott, 1985

Chloride (Cl-)
Contributes to EC Essential in low amounts Sensitive crops affected at high concentration

Leaf burn potential under sprinkler Burn higher with daytime irrigation

Chloride tolerance criteria Chloride (mg/l) < 70 70-140 Effect on crop Generally safe for all plants Sensitive plants show injury

141-350 > 350

Moderately tolerant plants show injury Can cause sever problems

Boron (B)
Essential in low amounts (alfalfa) Toxic to sensitive crops (>1.0 to 2.0 ppm)
Fertility Sufficient in low concentrations

The Guidelines for the use of effluent waste water quality in irrigation (Takashi, 1990)
Potential irrigation problem unit None Salinity EC TDS Permeability SAR= 0-3 and EC = 3-6 6-12 12-20 20-40 Specific Ion toxicity Sodium Surface irrigation Sprinkler irrigation Chloride Surface irrigation Sprinkler irrigation Miscellaneous effects pH Residual chlorine (overhead sprinkler only) Degree of restriction Slight to moderate 0.7-3 450-2000 0.7-0.2 1.2-0.3 1.9-0.5 2.9-1.3 5.0-2.9 Sever

ds/m mg/l ds/m

< 0.7 < 450 > 0.7 > 1.2 > 1.9 > 2.9 > 5.0

> 3.0 > 2000 < 0.2 < 0.3 < 0.5 < 1.3 < 2.9

SAR mg/l mg/l mg/l

<3 < 70 < 140 < 100

3-9 > 70 140-350 > 100

>9

> 350

Normal range 6.5-8.4 mg/l

< 1.0 1-5

> 5.0

Management Options

Saline sites: management (Jordan valley)

Saline sites: plant adaptations- screening for salt tolerance of avocado

Field Diagnosis

N deficiency symptoms: corn

Nitrogen cycle
N2
Atmosphere

biological N2 fixation
(N2R-NH2)

legumes organic fertilizers (manure...)

N2O, NOx, N2

denitrification
(NO3-N2O, NOx, N2)

uptake

+ NH4+(R-NH2 NH4 )

organic matter mineralization

NO3- (NH4 + NO3-)

Soil

nitrification

NH4+ fertilizers, urea

NO3- fertilizers

leaching

P deficiency sypmtoms

K deficiency symptoms

Calcareous sites: B toxicity -soybean

Phaseolus bean

Saline sites: salt tolerance genotypic differences in reaction to increasing NaCl supply

sugar beet

Recommended microbiological quality guidelines for wastewater use in agriculture

Catego ry Reuse condition Exposed group Intestinal nematodes
(arithemetic mean no. of eggs per litre)

Fecal coliform
(geometric mean no. per 100 ml)

Irrigation of crops likely to be eaten uncooked, sports fields, public parks

Workers, consumers public

<1

< 1000

Irrigation of cereal crops, industrial crops, fodder crops, pasture and tries Localize irrigation of crops in category B if exposure of workers and the public does not occur

Workers

<1

No standard recommended

None

Not applicable

Not applicable

Crop type and areas in the Gaza Strip (dunum) Source: Ministry of agriculture, 2004
Crop Type North Gaza Middle Khanyuns Rafah Total

Citrus
Olives

2,200
145

5,812
6,200

3,522
5,552

173
8,000

893
3,000

12,600
22,897

Date Palm
Almonds 2 0

Only small area remaining

511 900 1,750 3,163

Fruits
Vegetables (protected) Vegetables

301
4,754 6,756

2,992
286 3,532

2,552
2,347 5,860

3,831
6,470 17,376

657
7,525 13,520

10,333
21,382 47,044

Field crops
Flowers ornamentals Total

2,494
13 12 16677

3,423
0 0 22245

5,135
10 0 25489

21,680
10 120 58560

3,830
481 0 31656

36,562
514 132 154,627

Palestinian Standards for irrigation and groundwater recharge

Parameter Palestinian Standards

Irrigation
BOD (mg/l) 20-60

Recharge
20

TSS (mg/l)
TDS (mg/l) EC (ms/cm) T-N (mg/l) Na (mg/l)

30-90
1500 45 200

30
1500 100 230

Cl (mg/l)
SAR

500
9

600
-

B (mg/l)
F. Coliform (MPN/100ml) Nematodes (ovum/l)

0.7
200-1000 <1

1
200-1000 <1