Hydrochemical characteristics and irrigation suitability of surface water in the Syr Darya River, Kazakhstan

The surface water hydrochemistry of the Syr Darya River in Kazakhstan was investigated at 39 locations to analyze regional hydrochemical characteristics and evaluate the irrigation suitability of the studied regions. The cations in the surface water are mainly Na(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+), while the anions are mainly SO(4)(2−). The main hydrochemical type is Ca-Mg-SO(4)-Cl. From the perspective of natural factors, the hydrochemical characteristics in the study area are derived from the dual effects of rock weathering and evaporation-concentration; however, the influence of anthropogenic factors include industrial and agricultural production near the river and the inflow of urban domestic sewage on the hydrochemical characteristic is also present. The irrigation suitability evaluation of the surface water based on SAR, Na% and KI showed that the majority of the water is suitable for irrigation, and from the TDS content analysis, 71.43% of the samples are in a critical state, indicating that the influence of TDS concentration on irrigation suitability cannot be ignored. The results have practical significance for maintaining the sustainable use of water resources in the Syr Darya River. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s10661-019-7713-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.