Abstract
In this study, GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Approach (MCDA) is used to identify suitable locations to use groundwater for irrigation purposes in Salah-Al-Din Governorate, 180 km to the North of Baghdad, capital of Iraq republic. Various criteria are adopted including Electrical Conductivity (EC), Power of Hydrogen (pH), Sodium percentage (Na%), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Magnesium Adsorption Ratio (MAR), Kelly’s Ratio (KR), climate factor, aquifer thickness, and aquifer elevation. Three datasets are integrated to produce the suitability model, including geophysical data, groundwater wells data and satellite-based climate data. The criteria layers are assessed using the multi-criteria decision approach by combining them together using the weighted overlay function in ArcGIS 10.5. Appropriate weights assigned and integrated into GIS to create the groundwater suitability map for irrigation. Finally, the suitability of the study area for irrigation purposes with its percent to the total area is classified into three classes according to the set criteria used for this purpose: high suitability (35.41%), low suitability (44.22%), and unsuitable/excluded (20.37%).
Highlights
Agriculture is one of the significant sources of livelihood for Iraqi people as one-third of the population resides in rural areas and their livelihoods depend upon it [1]
Most of the area is covered by Quaternary deposits (Pleistocene) including the alternation of sediments such as clay, sand, and gravel which belong to recent sediments, with an underlying Pre-quaternary (Tertiary) deposit represented by Mukdadiyah Formation (Pliocene), which consists of the alternation of sandstone, siltstone and claystone, and Injana Formation
The results revealed the successful integration amongst the geoelectrical parameters, hydrological data, and Geographic information system (GIS) in the site selection process to identify the optimum locations for dam
Summary
Agriculture is one of the significant sources of livelihood for Iraqi people as one-third of the population resides in rural areas and their livelihoods depend upon it [1]. This, in addition to other factors, leads to the logical expectation of declination of the Euphrates and Tigris output by 2025 to 50% and 25% respectively [3] This problem coincides with a significant rise in Iraq’s population, increasing water demand, inadequate infrastructure to maintain quality of life and lack of scientific planning for water resources management. Another serious factor in this regard is that the Middle East region (including Iraq) is one of the most vulnerable world regions to the potential impact of climate change (less precipitation, higher transpiration, sea level rise, and drought). The consequences are many, which include a negative impact on agriculture, industry, tourism, and energy sectors resulting in increasing unemployment rates, poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition
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