ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY OF AL- HUSSEINIEH RIVER / KARBALA GOVERNORATE / IRAQ FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSE BY USING WATER QUALITY INDEX +

Abstract

water quality index(WQI) in a simplified concept is a way for combining thecomplex water quality data into a single value or single statement . The presentwork is a trial to evaluate and classify the water quality of Al- Husseinieh River /Karbala Governorate -Iraq for irrigation purpose, by using the model of Irrigationwater quality index (IWQI) developed in Brazil by Meireles et. al. (2010), this index canbe reflects soil salinity, sodicity risks, water toxicity to plants and miscellaneous impactson sensitive salts crops. Seventy two water samples were collected from three stations :(1-Um Al- Hammam, 2-Asalamih and 3-Bab–Baghdad) on Al- Husseinieh river from(January) until (December), 2011. These samples were analyzed for six parameterswhich were (EC), (Ca+2), (Mg+2), (Na+1), (HCO3-1) and (Cl-1). The results showed thatthe values of ( IWQI) ranged from(70.04) to( 83.63) and all stations fall within the 2ndcategory ‘‘low restriction’’, That means the river water quality is suited to irrigatedsoils with light texture . And Since the the nature of soil in irrigated lands on both sidesof the river is clay loam (heavy texture) so the problem of soil sodicity may occurs. Theresearcher also recommends farmers to avoid grow salts sensitive plants to increaseagricultural productivity in the study area.