Assessing suitability of surface water from Oued El Gourzi for irrigation east of Alger

The study was conducted to determine the suitability of surface water from Oued El Gourzi for irrigation in the Fesdis area, Algeria, during irrigation season of July 2022. The suitability was assessed by analysing eight water samples collected from various sites along the Oued. A range of physicochemical parameters were examined, including EC, pH, Mg2+, Na+, Ca2+, K+, HCO3– and Cl–, alongside other indices such as sodium absorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI) and magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) using standard procedures. The Richards classification shows that these waters are characterised by high salinity and low alkalinity hazard (C3–S1). According to the Wilcox classification, the majority of these waters are of doubtful quality, with only 25% exhibiting good quality for irrigation. Based on the RSC and MAR, all water samples are deemed safe and suitable for irrigation. However, PI values suggest that all sampling sites are of marginal quality for irrigation (class II). In terms of sodium and chloride concentration, all water samples were deemed unsuitable for irrigation. Based on these results, the waters pose risks for irrigation, particularly due to salinity, necessitating the implementation of special management practices and the selection of salt-tolerant crops.