Hydrochemical Characteristics and Suitability of Wadi Guebli (Northeastern Algeria) Water for Irrigation

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the primary factors influencing water quality in Wadi Guebli (Northeastern Algeria) and evaluate its suitability for irrigation by employing a combination of hydrochemical examination and multivariate statistical methods. Throughout the year 2023, water samples were collected from seven sampling locations and analysed for sulfate ⁽\({\text{SO}}_{4}^{{2 - }}\)), sodium (Na^+), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), bicarbonate (\({\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }\)), chloride (Cl^–) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions. The hydrochemical properties of water samples were determined using the Piper diagram, with the K⁺-\({\text{HCO}}_{3}^{ - }\) water type being the dominant facies. Magnesium ratio (MR), Kelly index (KI), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na⁺%), residual sodium carbonate (RSC) and permeability index (PI) values were employed to assess the suitability of the water for irrigation purposes. Calculated values of these parameters show that the Wadi Guebli waters present a danger for irrigation.