Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia
The groundwater quality data from 1,137 boreholes in 10 regions of Namibia were assessed for sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium percentage (Na%), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), total hardness (TH), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), potential salinity (PS), electrical co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.767496/full |
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| author | Hilma Rantilla Amwele Nnenesi Anna Kgabi Liisa Indileni Kandjibi |
| author_facet | Hilma Rantilla Amwele Nnenesi Anna Kgabi Liisa Indileni Kandjibi |
| author_sort | Hilma Rantilla Amwele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The groundwater quality data from 1,137 boreholes in 10 regions of Namibia were assessed for sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium percentage (Na%), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), total hardness (TH), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), potential salinity (PS), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) to determine the suitability for the irrigation. The groundwater was classified as follows: all the regions' groundwater shows the TH as very hard water of >4.6 meq/l, PS as not suitable for irrigation (>3 meq/l), and EC as very highly (0.75–2.25 dS/m). However, Na%: 10% of regions have doubtful water (>80%), MAR: 30% of regions are not recommended for irrigation (>50 meq/l), and TDS: 90% of the regions have slightly moderate (450–2,000 mg/l) and 10% have groundwater that is unsuitable for agricultural purposes (>2,000 mg/l). The unsuitability of groundwater for irrigation could be due to higher concentrations of K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cl− that has exceeded the FAO guideline for irrigation. Some groundwater qualities had inverse classification such as SAR all regions have excellent groundwater (<10 meq/l), KR: 90% of regions have safe water (<1 meq/l), Na%: 50% of regions have good groundwater (20–40%), 40% of the regions have permissible water (40–80%), and MAR: +70% of region's water is recommended for irrigation (<50 meq/l). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:59:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f407d901bc6f4950965b5a2ae490944d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T17:59:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-f407d901bc6f4950965b5a2ae490944d2022-12-21T19:30:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Water2624-93752021-12-01310.3389/frwa.2021.767496767496Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of NamibiaHilma Rantilla Amwele0Nnenesi Anna Kgabi1Liisa Indileni Kandjibi2Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, NamibiaUnit for Environmental Science and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, NamibiaThe groundwater quality data from 1,137 boreholes in 10 regions of Namibia were assessed for sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Kelly's ratio (KR), sodium percentage (Na%), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), total hardness (TH), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), potential salinity (PS), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) to determine the suitability for the irrigation. The groundwater was classified as follows: all the regions' groundwater shows the TH as very hard water of >4.6 meq/l, PS as not suitable for irrigation (>3 meq/l), and EC as very highly (0.75–2.25 dS/m). However, Na%: 10% of regions have doubtful water (>80%), MAR: 30% of regions are not recommended for irrigation (>50 meq/l), and TDS: 90% of the regions have slightly moderate (450–2,000 mg/l) and 10% have groundwater that is unsuitable for agricultural purposes (>2,000 mg/l). The unsuitability of groundwater for irrigation could be due to higher concentrations of K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and Cl− that has exceeded the FAO guideline for irrigation. Some groundwater qualities had inverse classification such as SAR all regions have excellent groundwater (<10 meq/l), KR: 90% of regions have safe water (<1 meq/l), Na%: 50% of regions have good groundwater (20–40%), 40% of the regions have permissible water (40–80%), and MAR: +70% of region's water is recommended for irrigation (<50 meq/l).https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.767496/fullgroundwaterirrigationsuitability for irrigationwater qualitysalinity |
| spellingShingle | Hilma Rantilla Amwele Nnenesi Anna Kgabi Liisa Indileni Kandjibi Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia Frontiers in Water groundwater irrigation suitability for irrigation water quality salinity |
| title | Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia |
| title_full | Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia |
| title_short | Sustainability of Groundwater for Irrigation Purposes in Semi-arid Parts of Namibia |
| title_sort | sustainability of groundwater for irrigation purposes in semi arid parts of namibia |
| topic | groundwater irrigation suitability for irrigation water quality salinity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frwa.2021.767496/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hilmarantillaamwele sustainabilityofgroundwaterforirrigationpurposesinsemiaridpartsofnamibia AT nnenesiannakgabi sustainabilityofgroundwaterforirrigationpurposesinsemiaridpartsofnamibia AT liisaindilenikandjibi sustainabilityofgroundwaterforirrigationpurposesinsemiaridpartsofnamibia |