Author(s): Shafik I. Abdel-Aal, Ragaa E.A. Sabrah, Rafaat K. Rabie, and Hago M. Abdel Magid
Article publication date: 1997-08-01
Vol. 15 No. 2 (yearly), pp. 361-377.
108
Keywords
wheat, alfalfa, groundwater.
Abstract
Appraisal of groundwater used for irrigation in El-Gassim region of Central Saudi Arabia was made by chemically analysing 217 representative water samples.
Based on previous water criteria guidelines and a modification by us, the data obtained were intensively processed and transformed. Accordingly, water quality and suitability maps were developed under the conditions of this study with special focus on wheat production.
The water quality parameters investigated revealed the following:
1) water salinity ranged from 210-8200 ppm with an average of 2375 ppm (i.e. between 16.6 and 83 t/ha of salt deposited in soil per season for wheat and alfalfa cultivation);
2) extensive water extraction caused a significant increment in SO4=/ Cl- ratio;
3) accumulation of reactive constituents such as H₂S, FeS and So=4 caused corrosion and damaged the pivot pipeline and
4) irrigation water contributed to soluble potassium which amounted to 475 and 2500 kg K₂SO4/ha/season for wheat and alfalfa crops, respectively.