GROUNDWATER QUALITY IN PISTACHIO GROWING AREA OF RAFSANJAN, IRAN

Irrigation has ever been an important factor in agricultural development.
Groundwater is the main source for irrigation in pistachio growing areas of Iran.
The use of poor quality groundwater can increase physical and chemical problems and plague reducing crop yields, determining the quality of these waters is necessary for proper planning of sustainable management in pistachio orchards.
In this study, one thousand samples were collected to determine EC, pH, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^–, HCO₃^–, SAR and Boron concentration in Rafsanjan, the largest pistachio growing area in Iran.
Results indicated that the mean values for EC, pH, SAR, Cl^–, HCO₃^–, Ca/Mg and Boron concentration were 6.1dSm^-1, 7.5, 11.3, 52.3 meqL^-1, 3.5 meqL^-1, 0.9 and 4.2 mg L^-1 in the study area, respectively.
About eighty percent of the samples had EC<8 dSm-1 and SAR<13. This means that groundwater had desirable quality according to EC and SAR values in most of the study area.
Although the mean values of Boron concentration in most of the area was lower than the reported critical level, Kabootarkhan region had less Boron concentration than the others.
Most of the variables showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between different regions.
A significant negative correlation was observed between EC and depth of water table in Anar and Nough regions.
Also, correlation between EC and Boron concentration in these regions was positively significant (P<0.01). Based on the results obtained, the groundwater quality of Kabootarkhan is better than other regions probably due to the hydrology and geomorphology.

IV International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds

J. Hosseinifard, M.H. Salehi, J. Mohammadi, M. Heydari

electro conductivity (EC), sodum adsorption, boron

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.726.34