Leaching Of Salts Research Articles

Physicochemical and pozzolanic properties of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash with different pretreatments.

Swelling caused by gas generated from municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) when it is mixed with alkali limits its uses. Besides, the leaching of anion salts and heavy metals contained in MSWIFA poses a high risk to environment. This study presents the feasibility of a one-step alkaline washing, one-step thermal quenching and two-step combination of alkaline washing and thermal quenching pretreatment methods in altering the key properties of MSWIFA for promoting its reusability. It was found that apart from H2(gas), NH3(gas) was also generated during the alkaline washing of the MSWIFA. Besides, pretreatments led to the reduction in particle size, the increase in pore volume and specific surface area of the MSWIFA, as well as the removal of chloride and sulfate anions. All the pretreatment methods were effective in reducing leaching of heavy metals to below levels of nonhazardous waste except Cd and Pb with alkaline washing. Furthermore, both the chemical Frattini test and the mechanical activity index test showed improvement in pozzolanic activities of the MSWIFA after the pretreatments. Overall, the combined pretreatment method was most effective in eliminating gas emission, and reducing leaching of metal ions and anions from the ash, while enhancing the pozzolanic activity of the ash.

Use of Compost Based on Invasive Algae Rugulopteryx okamurae as a Peat Alternative in Nursery Growing Media

The invasion of the macroalgae Rugulopteryx okamurae is causing several environmental and economic problems along Spanish Mediterranean coasts. The use of composts based on R. okamurae as a peat alternative in nursery production could be a valid alternative for the exploitation of this organic material. The present study evaluated three different composts as peat substitutes in potting media to grow tomato seedlings: compost of R. okamurae, compost of green horticultural residues (two-thirds) and R. okamurae (one-third), compost of garden pruning residues (two-thirds) and R. okamurae (one-third). Each compost was used to formulate two different substrates to reduce the use of peat (40% compost, 40% peat, 20% perlite) or entirely substitute it (80% compost, 20% perlite), using a control treatment with 80% peat and 20% perlite. Only the control treatment received mineral fertigation during the trial. The results showed that the high initial electrical conductivity and ion concentration were remarkably reduced thanks to the fast leaching of salt that occurred with customary irrigation. Generally, compost-based treatments allowed us to obtain tomato seedlings with satisfactory morphological parameters. The substrates that contained 40% compost of R. okamurae or a compost of garden pruning residues and R. okamurae led to the best results in term of seedling parameters. It is therefore concluded that composts based on R. okamuare could be used as a seedling growing medium for the valorization of algae.

Экологически безопасные направления использования отходов добычи угля как техногенного сырья алюминия

Purpose: Substantiation and development of new environmentally safe trends for utilization of dump rock of Donbass coal mines as technogenic aluminum deposits. To investigate mineralogical and chemical composition of dump rock samples of metamorphism varying degrees in order to substantiate the possibility of their processing as technogenic poor aluminum raw material. To conduct the experiments on chemical and biochemical (bacterial) leaching of fluid (soluble) aluminum compounds from dump rock samples. Methods: Analysis of chemical transformations and technogenic mineralogy in stored dump rock. Chemical and biochemical acid leaching of aluminum sulfate salts from dump rock of metamorphism varying degrees was carried out. Results: It has been established that according to the content of bauxites, the dump rock of Donbass coal mines can be attributed to poor aluminum raw material. Method of acid chemical leaching of soluble aluminum compounds with sulfuric acid solutions of various concentrations is proposed and effective leaching with weak acid solutions is proved. Method of biochemical (bacterial) leaching of aluminum salts is substantiated and vindicated. Practical significance: It is testified that environmental friendliness and cost–effectiveness of the process of closely-grouped biochemical leaching is ensured by the fact that the main reagent — sulfuric acid - is formed naturally as a result of bacteria vital functions and the process does not need additional technological units for acid production.

Coupling microbial and abiotic amendments accelerates in situ remediation of bauxite residue at field scale

Bauxite residue is a highly saline-sodic tailings material formed as a by-product of the Bayer process for alumina production. In situ remediation of bauxite residue has the potential to provide an effective means for accelerated rehabilitation of residue storage areas. However, previous work has predominantly only used chemical and physical amendments to date, limiting rates of pH neutralisation and extent of remediation. Combining these abiotic amendments with recently developed microbial biotechnology for pH neutralisation may transform bauxite residue into a productive soil material in a shorter timeframe. Here we investigated the effects of microbial and abiotic amendments (compost plus tillage), both in isolation and combined, on remediation of key bauxite residue properties in field scale trials (10 × 15 m × 2 m deep field plots). Triplicate residue samples were collected to 30 cm depth from each plot in quarterly field sampling campaigns. Changes in chemical and physical properties were monitored to assess remediation performance under different amendments. After one year, field plots amended with a microbial treatment had significantly (p < 0.05) lower average pH (8.99–9.46) in the upper 20 cm than the control (10.3). The combined microbial-abiotic treatment also had improved physical structure, higher organic C and lower electrical conductivity than the microbial treatment alone. The strong performance of the microbial-abiotic treatment is attributed to the combined benefits of bioneutralisation from microbial fermentation products, enhanced leaching of alkaline pore water and salts due to tillage and compost, and addition of highly stable C and N in compost. Combining novel microbial biotechnology with common abiotic amendments is therefore suggested for accelerating in situ remediation progress towards a material amenable for plant growth.

Effect of Magnetized Brackish Water Drip Irrigation on Water and Salt Transport Characteristics of Sandy Soil in Southern Xinjiang, China

Xinjiang is short on freshwater resources and rich in ones. The unregulated use of brackish water for agriculture leads to the aggravation of secondary salinization in soil; however, magnetization can improve the quality of brackish water. To evaluate the effects of magnetized brackish water drip irrigation on the water and salt transport characteristics of sandy soil in southern Xinjiang, China, a field plot experiment was carried out in which irrigation water was treated using one or two water magnetization events at different magnetization intensities. Water was treated at five magnetization intensities: 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, or 5000 Gs, while unmagnetized water was used as the control. The results showed that the magnetization of brackish water used in drip irrigation decreased the water transport rate and increased the water holding capacity of the root layer soil. Magnetized irrigation water enhanced the leaching of soil salt and reduced the rate of salt accumulation. Compared with the control, the salt content of the magnetized water-irrigated soil decreased by 15.0%~33.7%, and the salt storage in the magnetized water-irrigated soil decreased by 44.99%~86.78%. The lowest rate of salt accumulation (4.96%) was observed at a magnetization intensity of 3000 Gs. Magnetized water irrigation changed the composition and proportions of soil ions, and Na+, Cl−, and SO42− leaching from the soil increased. The effect of magnetizing the irrigation water twice was greater than that of one magnetization event. Magnetizing the water twice at an intensity of 3000 Gs led to the largest decrease in the relative percentage contents of Na+ and Cl−, which were 80.90% and 82.36%, respectively. The magnetization intensity had a significant effect on the soil carbon and nitrogen contents, which showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing as the magnetization intensity rose. The total carbon content after irrigation with magnetized water increased by 13.48%~63.35%, and the total nitrogen content increased by 11.73%~147.96%. The magnetization treatment of irrigation water can therefore reduce the risk of soil salinization and reduce salinity stress on crops in arid regions, providing a new method for alleviating the shortage of freshwater resources in Xinjiang and a means to use brackish water safely while improving salinized soil.

Processes of salt slag recycling in aluminum production to obtain powder material with a high content of aluminum oxide phases

The processing of salt slags in aluminum production in order to obtain a powder material with a high content of aluminum oxide phases and the results of thermodynamic assessment of the hydrolysis reactions of aluminum carbide and nitride during the hydraulic treatment of slags are discussed. It is reported that water‑soluble fluorine compounds, such as Na3AlF6, CaF2, MgF2, K2ZrF6 , in the composition of refining fluxes complicates the processing of aluminum slags, which involve leaching of salts by water. A rational solution seems to be the replacement of sparingly soluble salts in refining fluxes with sodium or potassium fluorides with a higher solubility in water. It is shown that the powder mixture obtained after hydraulic treatment of aluminum slag includes various forms of structural components in the form of films, shells, submicroand nanostructures of various morphologies with the participation of various types of nano‑components, in which the phases of non‑metallic compounds predominate, mainly ceramic substances and salts (corundum Al2O3, aluminum oxynitride Al2.85O3.45N0.55, aluminum nitride AlN, sodium chloride NaCl) and metallic aluminum. It is indicated that the possibility of forming eutectic mixtures of ceramic compounds of aluminum oxide and aluminum oxynitride, which are more fusible than pure oxides and nitrides, must be taken into account when developing salt slag recycling technologies in order to obtain ceramic powder materials with a high content of alumina phases.

Water conservation in the reclamation of saline irrigated lands of Uzbekistan

On the territory of Uzbekistan, almost half of the area of irrigated land is subject to salinization, for this reason up to 30 % or more of the crop yield is lost. With a shortage of water resources, which will deepen due to climate change, water-saving technologies must be used not only for irrigation but also for the reclamation of saline soils. The authors have developed a new approach to the regulation of the salt regime and soil reclamation. The conducted experiments have established that the use of the Biosolvent preparation almost doubles the efficiency of washing saline lands, due to the increased leaching of salts. To reduce salinity by 0.1% of the total amount of salts, the water-saving unit costs are 610 m3/ha. Calculation on the basis of field experimental data from 2016 (of established indicators of salt removal when using Biosolvent), shows a reduction of soil washing norm by 3000 m3/ha or by 38 %, at the transition of soils from “strong” degree of salinization to “non-saline”. The study 2020 proved that the application of Biosolvent preparation for the melioration of highly saline gypsum soils, combined with their preliminary deep loosening, allows reducing soil salinity by 5 dS/m, due only to atmospheric precipitation.

Assessment of soil properties from coir pith waste dump yard

The research region, Kallipatti, is surrounded by coconut farms, coir pith companies, and other businesses, and people report that water has become their primary concern in the last three years. Skin and eye allergies, as well as lung and throat infections, have been on the rise. Coir pith degrades slowly and can be found in the soil for long periods of time. Coir pith is tenacious and accumulates in the environment, generating hillocks that pollute the environment in locations near coir fibre extraction plants. These units contribute significantly to the pollution of the environment, both on land and in the water. Coir pith is easily blown by the wind, causing pollution in the air. The leaching of tannin and salts from coir pith hillocks during monsoon rains pollutes ground water, which is detrimental to fisheries, animals, and humans because most of these pollutants are difficult to remove using waste treatment procedures. Because of the vast quantities of coir pith kept, leachates containing residual phenol from these landfills seep into the soil, thereby polluting it. and causes contamination of ground water, especially during the rainy season. It’s a great place for rats and other bug pests to breed. Despite the fact that coir pith is a hazardous waste, it can be turned into beneficial organic manure by microbial breakdown. Pollution sources are identified, soil samples are taken, physical properties of the soil samples are measured, and critical nutrients for crop growth such as nitrogen and soil OC (organic carbon) are examined in this study. These criteria should be evaluated to determine the health of the soil. The results are compared to IS code 1498-1970 (Soil classification and identification) and IS 2720-1985 (Methods of testing for soils).

Insight on bacteria communities in outdoor bronze and marble artefacts in a changing environment

Epilithic bacteria play a fundamental role in the conservation of cultural heritage (CH) materials. On stones, bacterial communities cause both degradation and bioprotection actions. Bronze biocorrosion in non-burial conditions is rarely studied. Only few studies have examined the relationship between bacteria communities and the chemical composition of patinas (surface degradation layers). A better comprehension of bacterial communities growing on our CH is fundamental not only to understand the related decay mechanisms but also to foresee possible shifts in their composition due to climate change. The present study aims at (1) characterizing bacterial communities on bronze and marble statues; (2) evaluating the differences in bacterial communities' composition and abundance occurring between different patina types on different statues; and (3) providing indications about a representative bacterial community which can be used in laboratory tests to better understand their influence on artefact decay. Chemical and biological characterization of different patinas were carried out by sampling bronze and marble statues in Bologna and Ravenna (Italy), using EDS/Raman spectroscopy and MinION-based 16SrRNA sequencing.Significant statistical differences were found in bacterial composition between marble and bronze statues, and among marble patinas in different statues and in the same statue. Marble surfaces showed high microbial diversity and were characterized mainly by Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus. Bronze patinas showed low taxa diversity and were dominated by copper-resistant Proteobacteria. The copper biocidal effect is evident in greenish marble areas affected by the leaching of copper salts, where the bacterial community is absent. Here, Ca and Cu oxalates are present because of the biological reaction of living organisms to Cu ions, leading to metabolic product secretions, such as oxalic acid. Therefore, a better knowledge on the interaction between bacteria communities and patinas has been achieved.

Response of Potted Hebe andersonii to Salinity under an Efficient Irrigation Management

Although the use of marginal-quality water can be an effective measure to alleviate water scarcity, it often contains a high concentration of salts that can compromise crop growth. As a result, farmers apply more water than necessary to leach salts away from the root zone, resulting in wasted water and the release of fertilizers into the groundwater. In this study, we assessed the effects of three salinity levels of irrigation water (1.8 dS m−1, 3.3 dS m−1, and 4.9 dS m−1) on the physiology and ornamental traits of Hebe andersonii cv. Variegata. The experiment was carried out with potted plants in a greenhouse for seven months. We also studied the feasibility of growing this cultivar without leaching salts. The results showed that Hebe plants can be grown without leaching using water up to 3 dS m−1. This setup produces plants with high water use efficiency and without reducing their ornamental value. Meanwhile, irrigation with 5 dS m−1 water reduced the quality of Hebe but did not compromise its physiological processes. The photosynthesis of Hebe under salinity conditions was mainly controlled by stomata, which was related to the level of salt stress and water status of the plant. Salinity had no significant effects on photosystem II, which can be explained by the fact that Hebe was able to dissipate the excess excitation energy as heat effectively. Hebe was able to avoid ion toxicity and maintain a suitable nutrient balance under the salinity levels tested in this experiment.

Impact of drought and salinity on olive potential yield, oil and fruit qualities (cv. Chemlali) in an arid climate

The increase water demand for irrigation is leading to the use of low-quality water resources. The combined impact of drought and salinity on olive production sustainability, yield quality, growth, soil salinity and soil water conditions in arid areas has been little investigated. This study’s purpose was conducted to investigate the effects of the monitoring of saline water irrigation on soil properties and olive trees (cv. Chemlali) grown in an arid region of Tunisia (Sfax), on the potential yield, growth and quality of the resultant virgin olive oil in comparison to Rain-fed conditions. It is also intended to compare olive productive performance during a severe drought with, and without, irrigation and to assess recovering capacities after long driest period. Three irrigation levels were considered: (i) Full irrigation (100%ETc) with saline water 7.5 dS m-1 (FI); (ii) Full irrigation with same amount of water than the FI applied with tap water 2.46 dS m-1 (TW); and (iii) Rain-fed conditions (Dry). The results have showed that irrigation with saline water maintained the soils permeability, induced the distribution of salts outside the root zone. Additionally, it has maintained an adequate hydration of the rhizosphere through continuous and efficient leaching of salts to deep horizons. After drought period, the increase of the yield of rain-fed trees indicated 50% of recovery as compared to saline water. Irrigation with saline water reduced this gap due to drought impact. But it was 50% under that tap water; while reduction was 15% as a reduction capacity of potential yield. Hence, drought and salt stress alter the olive tree capacity and potential yield in an irreversible way if their severity is very intense. As salinity increased, there was a desirable sink in measured total phenols and flavonoids levels and a rise of oleic and linoleic acids as compared to rainfed conditions. For the triglycerides composition, triolein (OOO) was present in very large quantity in three oils, with a high content for FI (23.94%). Saline water treatment did not affect free acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, chlorophyll, carotenoids, in contrast to Rain-fed treatment which was decreased. Olive trees permanently lost less than half of their potential yield during drought without irrigation. Irrigation with saline water seems to ensure sustainable monitoring olive yield and oil quality.

Studies on Potential of Magnetic Field Applications for Sustainable Agriculture

As per the reports published by Ministry of Water Resources GOI, increasing salinity of soil in Punjab is becoming threat to sustainability. There is an urgent need to reduce the rate of salt accumulation and improve the leaching of salts below root zone, make use of low-quality saline water and at the same time to increase the rate of germination of seeds and crop yield without leading to detrimental effects on environment.Present study is aimed around use of electromagnetic energy for the change in the saline behaviour of water, for the investigations a characteristic sample of saline water of EC = 4000 μS/cm was magnetized by passing through a pipe fitted with 4 pairs of electromagnets, at flow rate of 2L, 3L & 4L per minute, with varying magnetic field strengths of electromagnet, by varying applied voltage of 2V and 4V. Surface Tension of differently magnetized saline water was observed by Stalagmometer drop count method. The rate of accumulation of salts in terms of EC of soil at 30 cm, 60 cm & 90 cm depths in soil was compared by irrigating soil in two 1m long vertical columns with saline water and Magnetically Treated Saline Water (MTSW) for 5 irrigations.Effect of magnetically treated normal and saline water and Magnetic Field (MF) was also observed on seed germination and plant growth of Vigna radiata. It was observed that not only MF in soil but also magnetically treated normal & saline water have facilitated the growth which can be attributed to increased absorption of water and nutrients if treated magnetically.

Nutrient management in salt affected soils for sustainable crop production

ABSTRACT Soil salinity and sodicity are the global problems and pose a serious threat to agriculture sustainability. The distribution of salt affected soils exist mostly under arid and semi-arid climates where rainfall is inadequate to leach salts from/out of the root zone. These soils have poor fertility, generally with low availability of nitrogen, calcium, zinc, iron and manganese. Therefore, judicious nutrients management on the principle of INM in these soils is as important as their reclamation. In these soils, crops respond differently to applied nutrients due to their diverse chemical composition impacting precipitation-dissolution reactions and adsorption-desorption kinetics. Nutrient transformation and loss mechanisms of applied nutrients are also affected by the magnitude of soil salinity and sodicity. The paper aims at discussing efficient nutrient management in salt affected soils for sustainable crop production.

Hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water composition in a hyperarid environment: New insights from Li, B, and Sr isotopes in the Salar de Atacama

Northern Chile, NW Argentina, and SW Bolivia, (“the lithium triangle”), represent a world class reservoir of lithium, but this extraordinary enrichment is still controversial, and different processes have been invoked over the years, including, geothermal waters associated with active volcanism, leaching of soluble salts from volcanic rocks and leaching of lithium-rich clays. The Salar de Atacama (SDA) represents one of the richest reservoirs of Li in northern Chile and has been extensively studied during the past years. Most of the studies have been focused in the southern and southeastern portions, where the highest lithium concentrations have been reported. However, a comprehensive model of water recharge at SDA is still imprecise. We used a combination of isotopic methods, including δ7Li, δ11B and 87Sr/86Sr ratios, with their chemical composition of a set of water samples from salt lakes, geothermal manifestations, groundwaters and surficial diluted waters (rivers and streams with low salinity). This study explores the hydrogeochemical processes controlling the water composition and solute distribution of the SDA. Our data confirm that weathering of the ignimbrites constitutes one of the most important processes in relation of solute origin in the region, where deep water-rock interactions would operate at high temperature, enhancing leaching of Li and other solutes. We determine that groundwater flow entering the SDA has undergone pre-enrichment processes (e.g., leak from Altiplano salt lakes; evaporite dissolution, among others) associated with salt inputs in the Western Cordillera. Our results provide a step forward to a comprehensive understanding of the processes that govern brine formation and lithium enrichment in a hyperarid environment, contributing to a sustainable exploration and exploitation of lithium in these environments.

Determining the appropriate level of farmyard manure biochar application in saline soils for three selected farm tree species.

Salinity is a global problem, and almost more than 20% of the total cultivated area of the world is affected by salt stress. Phytoremediation is one of the most suitable practices to combat salinity and recently biochar has showed the tremendous potential to alleviate salt-affected soils and enhance vegetation. Trees improve the soil characteristics by facilitating the leaching of salts and releasing organic acids in soil. Moreover, in the presence of trees, higher transpiration rates and lower evaporation rates are also helpful in ameliorating salt affected soils. This study was designed to check the effect of different levels of biochar on the morph-physiological characteristics of three important agroforestry tree species: Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Vachellia nilotica, and Dalbergia sissoo, in saline soils. Farmyard manure biochar was applied at the rate of 3% (w/w), 6% (w/w), and 9% (w/w) to find appropriate levels of biochar for promoting the early-stage trees growth under saline conditions. Results of the current study revealed that maximum shoot length (104.77 cm), shoot dry weight (23.72 g), leaves dry weight (28.23 g), plant diameter (12.32 mm), root length (20.89 cm), root dry weight (18.90 g), photosynthetic rate (25.33 μ moles CO2 m-2s-1) and stomatal conductance (0.12 mol H2O m-2 s-1) were discovered in the plants of Eucalyptus camaldulensis at the rate of 6% (w/w). All tree species showed better results for growth and physiological characteristics when biochar was applied at the rate of 6% (w/w). In comparison, a decreasing trend in growth parameters was found in the excessive amount of biochar when the application rate was increased from 6% (w/w) to 9% (w/w) for all three species. So, applying an appropriate level of biochar is important for boosting plant growth in saline soils. Among different tree species, Vachellia nilotica and Eucalyptus camaldulensis both showed very promising results to remediate salt affected soils with Vachellia nilotica showing maximum potential to absorb sodium ions.

Marine Geopolymer Concrete—A Hybrid Curable Self-Compacting Sustainable Concrete for Marine Applications

Marine environments are widely addressed as a serious threat to coastal concrete structures due to higher repair and rehabilitation costs. The rising concerns of climate change and related issues also require marine structures to be resilient and sustainable at the same time. Geopolymer concrete has been given more significant consideration as an alternative, reporting better resistance to harsh and hazardous environmental exposure, including sulphate attacks, chloride attacks, and freeze–thaw climates. This study investigated the mechanical properties of fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS)-based self-compacting geopolymer concrete (SCGC), subjected to short term ambient and marine curing conditions. The mechanical performance, inclusive of compressive strength, tensile strength, and modulus of elasticity under three-month marine exposure compared to an ambient environment, indicates that the SCGC mix offered an increase in strength. It is reported that the compressive strength of SCGC increased to the range of 50 MPa after marine exposure in comparison to the 40 MPa strength after 28-day curing. A similar increase in indirect tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were observed for the test specimens, with no signs of leaching of salts under marine exposure. Thus, the current SCGC acts as a sustainable construction material in counteracting the threats of marine degradation in civil structural components.

Water uptake-induced pressure development by French bituminized radioactive waste products under nearly constant volume conditions

Water uptake and salt leaching of two simulated French Bituminized Waste Products (BWP) have been investigated under nearly constant volume conditions. The resulting pressure development was monitored during 5 to 6 years for two simulated BWP samples, varying one from the other by their inorganic load and composition. Pressure development induced by water uptake is mainly the result of two processes: (1) an osmotic phenomenon due to the presence of soluble and hygroscopic salts (NaNO3 and Na2SO4) embedded in the bitumen matrix and (2) recrystallization of anhydrous Na2SO4 into its decahydrate form, leading to an important volumetric expansion. After a certain hydration period, the pressure exerted by the hydrating BWP stabilizes when the pressure generating phenomena are fully counteracted by the leaching of soluble salts via out-diffusion, reconsolidation of pores in highly leached parts of the BWP, and/or some creep of the BWP into the technical voids of the water uptake cells. For one of the French BWP, this already occurred after 1 year of hydration. Differences are found in the pressure evolution and increase rate of the two studied BWP, though a much larger difference is observed when comparing the results of the French BWP to a Belgian BWP, i.e. Eurobitum. The faster pressure development observed for the French BWPs can be attributed to the differences in the soluble salt content, the inorganic load, the content of recrystallizing salts, but also to the presence of insoluble salts such as BaSO4, which seems to facilitate the water uptake rate in the French BWP. The faster hydration in French BWP results in a larger fraction of salts becoming available for osmosis and recrystallization within a relatively short time frame, thereby explaining the faster pressure build-up. On the other hand, BaSO4 does not seem to affect the leaching of soluble salts from BWP directly.

Effect of high nitrate contamination of groundwater on human health and water quality index in semi-arid region, South India

The specific objective of the present is to evaluate the human health issue due to the continuous consumption of nitrate-contaminated groundwater among the various age groups of people. In the study, 40 groundwater samples were collected during the post-monsoon season, and the major ions were analysed in a laboratory. Chadha plot revealed that weathering of parent rocks, ion exchange process and leaching of salts from the rocks are primary sources of groundwater contamination. Nitrate concentration varied from 24 to 78 mg/L with a mean of 46.45 mg/L. Nitrogen pollution index (NPI) value divulged that 40% and 17.5% of sample locations are moderately and significantly polluted due to elevated nitrate concentration in groundwater. The human health risk assessment model revealed that health issues are among the various age groups which are infants > kids > children > aged peoples > adults. The nitrate’s identified sources are leaching of salts from the rocks, using synthetic fertilizers, uncovered septic tanks and improper disposal of household waste from the residential area. Therefore, periodic inspection of water supply, health check-up and inspection of underground pipelines are the remedial measures that should be taken to reduce the severe effects of nitrate-contaminated drinking water in the study area.

Impact of Recycled Water Irrigation on Soil Salinity and Its Remediation

Continuous use of recycled water (treated wastewater) over a long period of time may lead to the accumulation of salt in the root zone of the soil. This is due to the relatively higher levels of salt contained in the recycled water compared to a town water supply. The increase in salt concentration in the soil can adversely influence the amount of water a plant can uptake from the soil due to the osmotic effect. Despite significant benefits, recycled water may deteriorate soil health in terms of increased salinity and sodicity. Although several studies in the past have highlighted the increase of soil salinity due to recycled water irrigation, the phenomenon depends on the variability of soil characteristics. In this study, the impact of using three different types of irrigation water (with electrical conductivity 0.2, 0.8, and 2.0 dS/m) on the mechanism of salt accumulation in the soil was investigated. To contribute to the addition of the existing knowledge of soil salinisation, soil from two paddocks (i.e., D33 and Yarramundi) in Western Sydney, Australia were analysed, and relationships among parameters associated with salt accumulation were evaluated using the results from continuous column studies. Results show that if the irrigation is conducted with high saline water, there is a possibility for salinisation of soil to occur. To prevent this from occurring, one of the solutions could be to use a normal town water supply for irrigation at some intervals. This will allow for the leaching of excess salt accumulated in the soil to deeper layers.

Study The Suitability of Water Quality For Agricultural Uses In Al- Diwaniyah Governorate in Iraq

This study was conducted to assess the water quality of the Diwaniyah river by using the water quality index for irrigation uses (WQII), which was done over the period from November 2019 to June 2020. The water quality of the river shape has a different pattern over various climatic areas. Our study evaluated the spatial scale variation of the water quality index (WQI) to comprehend this phenomenon. They were analysed based on the standard methods for the following parameters: SAR, HCO3–, Cl–, Na+, and EC. The assessment of water quality was made using the water quality index (WQI). The calculated value of WQII for six stations along the river for the eight months duration showed that the water might be utilised in soils texture with moderate to high permeability magnitudes; being proposed that moderate leaching of salts for soils and plants with moderate tolerance to salts may be grown in moderate restrictions (MR) depending on the index of irrigation water quality.