Analysis of Irrigation Water Quality in Silifke-Mersin Province, Turkey

This study was performed to identify the irrigation water quality of groundwater resources used in irrigation of some vegetable plants and their effect on soil salinity at plastic houses. Water samples were taken from groundwater resources. In addition, soil samples were taken from the research sites at 0-30 cm soil depth for determination of chemical and physical properties of research soils. In results, soil textures varied from Sandy-Clay-Loam (SCL) to Loam (L). The pH and Electrical Conductivity, EC, of soils within the plastic houses varied from 7.36 to 7.66 and from 375 to 3449 mumhos/cm, respectively. Those parameters for water samples varied from 7.15 to 8.03 and from 437 to 2103 mumhos/cm, respectively. In accordance of United State Salinity Laboratory standard, irrigation water quality was found as C2 (Moderate Saline Water) and C3 (High Saline Water). In general, salinity levels of irrigation water were high and possible reason behind that groundwater could be affected from high saline seawater interactions that are nearby the wells