Assessment of Soil and Water Properties in the Central Marshes Southern Iraq

Abstract

The Central Marshes are one of southern Iraq's most important wetlands and ecosystems. A study on evaluating soil quality and water quality in terms of chemical properties at certain sites in the southern Iraqi Central Marshes has been conducted to investigate their types and suitability for enhancing the agricultural reality of most field crops. Soil and water samples were collected from 15 sites and transferred to the laboratory. In the lab, the following parameters were determined: electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), organic materials (OM), pH, gypsum, and total sulfate content (SO3). The tests conducted on the samples indicated that it could be said that the soil of the Central Marshes is dark blackish-gray silty clay or clayey silt soil and revealed that most of the southern marshlands are suitable for planting different crops. Analysis of the results may have a role in designing and planning upcoming projects such as construction and agriculture, which would have to enlighten the decision maker.