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 Symbol Unit

Total dissolved solids TDS mg/l

Electrical conductivity EC ds/m
Temperature T oC

Color/turbidity NTU/JTU
Hardness mg equivalent CaCO3/l
sediments g/l

NTU/JTU = Nephelometric Turbidity Unit/ Jackson Turbidity Unit

Chemical Parameters used in the evaluation of agricultural water quality

Parameters Symbol Unit

Acidity/basicity pH
Type and concentration of
anions and cations
Calcium Ca
Magnesium Mg mg/l
Sodium Na
Carbonate CO3
Bicarbonate HCO3
Chloride Cl
Sulphate SO4
Sodium adsorption ratio SAR
Boron B
Trace metals
Heavy metals
Nitrate-nitrogen NO3-N
Phosphate PO4-P mg/l
Potassium K
 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 TDS (mg/l) Electrical conductivity (ds/m)

Class 1, excellent < 1000 0.25

Class 2, good 0.25- 0.75

Class 3, permissible 1000-2000 0.76-2.00

Class 4, Doubtful 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 Zero yield salinity

(dS/m)

Sensitive (almond, apple, 1.4 8.0

apricot, carrot)
Moderately sensitive (corn, 3.0 16.0
grape, pepper, tomatoes)
Moderately tolerant (olive, 6.0 24.0
barley)
Tolerant (cotton, date palm) 10.0 32.0
Sodicity (sodic) -high sodium content

SAR: sodium adsorption ratio

+
Na
SAR =
++ ++
Ca + Mg
2

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

 Generalized Classification of Salt-Affected Soils

Classification EC (ds/m) SAR pH

Saline 4.0 13 8.5

Sodic 4.0 13 8.5

Saline-Sodic 4.0 13 8.5

High pH 4.0 13 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) Effect on crop

< 70 Generally safe for all plants

70-140 Sensitive plants show injury

141-350 Moderately tolerant plants show injury

> 350 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 Degree of restriction
None Slight to Sever
moderate
Salinity
EC ds/m < 0.7 0.7-3 > 3.0
TDS mg/l < 450 450-2000 > 2000
Permeability
SAR= 0-3 and EC = ds/m > 0.7 0.7-0.2 < 0.2
3-6 > 1.2 1.2-0.3 < 0.3
6-12 > 1.9 1.9-0.5 < 0.5
12-20 > 2.9 2.9-1.3 < 1.3
20-40 > 5.0 5.0-2.9 < 2.9
Specific Ion toxicity
Sodium
Surface irrigation SAR <3 3-9 >9
Sprinkler irrigation mg/l < 70 > 70
Chloride
Surface irrigation mg/l < 140 140-350 > 350
Sprinkler irrigation mg/l < 100 > 100
Miscellaneous effects
pH Normal range 6.5-8.4
Residual chlorine (overhead mg/l
sprinkler only) < 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 biological N2
Atmosphere fixation
(N2R-NH2)
legumes

organic
N2O, NOx, fertilizers
N2 (manure...)
organic
matter
mineralization
NH4+(R-NH2 NH4 )
+
denitrification uptake
(NO3-N2O, NOx, N2) nitrification
NH4+ fertilizers,
NO3- (NH4 + NO3-) urea

Soil
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 Reuse condition Exposed group Intestinal Fecal coliform

ry nematodes (geometric mean no.
(arithemetic per 100 ml)
mean no. of eggs
per litre)

A Irrigation of crops likely to be Workers, <1 < 1000

eaten uncooked, sports fields, consumers public
public parks

B Irrigation of cereal crops, Workers <1 No standard

industrial crops, fodder crops, recommended
pasture and tries

C Localize irrigation of crops in None Not applicable Not applicable

category B if exposure of
workers and the public does not
occur
Crop type and areas in the Gaza Strip (dunum) Source: Ministry of agriculture, 2004

Crop Type North Gaza Middle Khanyuns Rafah Total

Citrus 2,200 5,812 3,522 173 893 12,600

Olives 145 6,200 5,552 8,000 3,000 22,897

Date Palm Only small area remaining

Almonds 2 0 511 900 1,750 3,163

Fruits 301 2,992 2,552 3,831 657 10,333

Vegetables 4,754 286 2,347 6,470 7,525 21,382

(protected)
Vegetables 6,756 3,532 5,860 17,376 13,520 47,044

Field crops 2,494 3,423 5,135 21,680 3,830 36,562

Flowers 13 0 10 10 481 514

ornamentals 12 0 0 120 0 132

Total 16677 22245 25489 58560 31656 154,627

 Palestinian Standards for irrigation and groundwater recharge

Parameter Palestinian Standards

Irrigation Recharge
BOD (mg/l) 20-60 20
TSS (mg/l) 30-90 30
TDS (mg/l) 1500 1500
EC (ms/cm) - -
T-N (mg/l) 45 100
Na (mg/l) 200 230
Cl (mg/l) 500 600
SAR 9 -
B (mg/l) 0.7 1
F. Coliform (MPN/100ml) 200-1000 200-1000
Nematodes (ovum/l) <1 <1