River and ground waters used for farm crop irrigation

Abstract

Global threats such as climate change are exacerbating the challenges facing the agricultural sector of Kyrgyzstan. The most dangerous consequence of climate change is the reduction of the flow of numerous rivers which are the basis of irrigated agriculture and, consequently, the country’s entire rural economy. There is an urgent need to reduce irrigation losses by constructing new water supply systems and using groundwater for irrigation. One of Kyrgyzstan's main crops is the world-famous Uzgen rice grown in the floodplains of the rivers of the Osh, Batken, and Jalal-Abad regions. Its production directly depends on the composition and quality of irrigation water. Vegetable growing for export also contributes to the widespread growing of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L). In the Batken Region, irrigation water supply is of paramount importance; many growers use artesian water for irrigation. The research goal is to analyze the composition of river waters in southern Kyrgyzstan, groundwater from wells in the Batken and Osh Regions, and waters from springs in mountainous areas, and to evaluate water effectiveness for irrigation. In terms of calcium and magnesium content, waters from the Kara-Darya, Zhazy, and Zarger Rivers and the Makarenko well meets irrigation standards; the waters promote normal plant growth and development. On the contrary, the water from the Dosmat well exceeds the standards more than three times. It may cause soil salinization, block the absorption of other elements as magnesium and potassium, and form solid deposits in irrigation systems reducing irrigation efficiency. The waters from the Kara-Darya, Zhazy, and Zarger Rivers and the Makarenko well are of moderate hardness, while the Dosmat well water is considered to be hard. According to the U.S. regulations, the waters of the Kara-Darya, Zhazy, and Zarger rivers and the Dosmat well are considered to be very hard, while the Makarenko well water is considered hard. In general, the use of artesian water for irrigating sweet peppers requires pre-treatment and ongoing soil monitoring to avoid negative impacts on yield and product quality.