An investigation into the characteristics of the water in the K？z？l？rmak Basin with respect to irrigation

The purpose of this research is to identify the characteristics of the Upper K？z？l？rmak Basin with respect to agricultural irrigation based on Wilcox and the US salt diagrams and to find out the geographical factors that impact the chemical features of the K？z？l？rmak within this basin. The data were collected from primary sources (water, soil and rock samples) and secondary sources (meteorological data, reports of water analysis obtained from the 19th Regional Management of General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works). The water samples, soil samples and rock samples were analysed in the laboratory of the 19th Regional Management of General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, ？ark？？la Clinical Analysis Laboratory and the Petrography Laboratory of Geological Engineering Department at Cumhuriyet university, respectively. Wilcox and the US diagrams were utilised to test if the water samples could be used for irrigation. The results of soil analysis were evaluated using descriptive analysis method. The climatological data obtained from the directorate of metrology in Sivas were analysed using Thornthwaite climate classification method. The following results were obtained from these analyses. 1. As a result of an evaluation of water samples from the K？z？l？rmak based on Wilcox diagram and US salt diagrams, the water samples collected from the locales around the source springs of the K？z？l？rmak were found to be fresh and potable water, while those samples collected from the area beginning with the County of Zara and particularly from the County of Hafik until the provincial border of Kayseri were classified as of doubtful use or not recommendable for irrigation. 2. When the rock samples collected from the study area were evaluated, as most of the basin beginning with Zara until the provincial border of Kayseri is composed of gypsum series, the water in this area is highly salty and bitter. This negatively affects the characteristics of K？z？l？rmak water with respect to agricultural irrigation. 3. In all stations, excess water is at moderate levels, while water scarcity is felt at serious levels. This leads to lack of precipitation in summer months and therefore the salt is not diluted; drought in summer months in the area increases salt levels. This, in turn, makes the water inappropriate for irrigation during summer months at desired levels