Integrating GIS techniques and lab analyses to assess the effect of sediments on the physical and chemical properties of soil and water in Um Naaj marsh, southern Iraq

Abstract

A study for the evaluation of some physical and chemical properties of soil and water of certain sites in southern Iraqi marsh called Umm Naaj, a part of Al-Hawizeh Marsh, has been carried out using the integration between fieldwork, lab analyses, and GIS techniques. Sixteen water and soil samples were collected, then transferred to the lab. In the lab, some chemical properties of water samples were determined, while soil samples are subjected to some chemical and physical analysis. IDW method in GIS software had been utilized for interpolation of spatial distribution of chemical and physical properties of soil and water through the study area. Results of analysis and interpolation maps showed that the clay fraction was the dominant in soil samples, followed by silt and sand. Regarding chemical properties, all soil samples are an alkaline reaction. The percent of minerals for silt fraction indicate that calcite was the dominant mineral followed by quartz and illite. The x-ray diffraction analysis results indicated the presence of regular Mica-Smectite mixed layer mineral. The interpolation maps indicated that there is an effect of sediments on some properties in different levels where some properties were highly affected and some moderately and some have no effect on soil and water quality.