Sustainable agriculture through qanat systems in Karabakh: Water and soil characteristics in the context of climate change

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 13 Sayı: 4, 303 - 311, 30.09.2024

Alovsat Guliyev Tunzala Babayeva Rahila Islamzade , Tariverdi Islamzade Terlan Yelmarlı Elnur Nesirov Azade Aliyeva Nergiz Ashurova

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1509552

Öz

This study investigates the water quality and soil characteristics associated with qanat systems in the Cebrail district of the Karabakh region, Azerbaijan. Qanat systems, traditional underground channels designed for water transport, play a crucial role in providing reliable water sources for drinking and irrigation. Water and soil samples were collected from seven qanat systems and analyzed for various physicochemical properties. Water quality parameters included pH, electrical conductivity, hardness, mineralization, and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other ions. Soil analyses focused on pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, salinization degree, and the presence of key ions like sulfate and nitrate. The results indicated that qanat water is generally of high quality, with pH levels suitable for both drinking and irrigation. However, some qanat systems exhibited high electrical conductivity and mineralization levels, suggesting potential salinity issues for sensitive crops. Soil samples showed favorable conditions for agriculture, with good pH levels, low salinity, and high organic matter content. The analysis revealed a significant interaction between water quality and soil characteristics, emphasizing the importance of integrated management practices. In the context of climate change, the sustainability of qanat systems is critical. Recommendations include regular monitoring of water and soil quality, soil amendments to mitigate salinity, efficient irrigation techniques, and the use of climate-resilient infrastructure. This study underscores the importance of qanat systems in arid and semi-arid regions and provides practical recommendations for sustainable land and water resource management, enhancing the socio-economic well-being of local communities.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Qanat systems, agricultural impact, Karabakh region, soil and water management

Kaynakça

• Abadi, B., Sadeghfam, S., Ehsanitabar, A., Nadiri, A.A., 2023. Investigating socio-economic and hydrological sustainability of ancient Qanat water systems in arid regions of central Iran. Groundwater for Sustainable Development 23: 100988.
• Abanyie, S.K., Apea, O.B., Abagale, S.A., Amuah, E.E.Y., Sunkari, E.D., 2023. Sources and factors influencing groundwater quality and associated health implications: A review. Emerging Contaminants 9(2): 100207.
• Abbass, K., Qasim, M.Z., Song, H. Murshed, M., Mahmood, H., Younis, I., 2022. A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29: 42539–42559.
• Abudanh, F., Twaissi, S., 2010. Innovation or technology immigration? The qanat systems in the regions of Udhruh and Ma'an in southern Jordan. Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research 360: 67-87.
• Baba, A., Gündüz, O., 2017. Effect of geogenic factors on water quality and ıts relation to human health around Mount Ida, Turkey. Water 9: 66.
• Babayeva, T., Guliyev, A., İslamzade, T., İslamzade, R., Haciyeva, X., Ashurova, N., Aliyeva, A., Maksudov, S., 2024. Impacts of irrigation with Cd-contaminated water from Sugovushan Reservoir, Azerbaijan on total cadmium and its fractions in soils with varied textures. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 13(2): 145-152.
• Carter, M.R., Gregorich, E.G., 2008. Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis. CRC Press, 1224p.
• Chambers, P., 2019. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. ED-Tech Press, 332p.
• FAO, 1985. Water quality for agriculture. Irrigation and drainage paper No. 29. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome. 174p. Available at Access date: 04.02.2024: https://www.fao.org/4/t0234e/t0234e00.htm
• Glinski, J., 1990. Soil Physical Conditions and Plant Roots. CRC Press, 260p.
• Guliyev, A., 2016. Evolution of the qanat (kahriz) systems in the arid countries of the caucasus and central Asia. In: Underground aqueducts handbook. Angelakis, A.N., Chiotis, E.D., Eslamian, S., Weingartner, H. (Eds.). CRC Press. pp.323-332.
• Guliyev. A., 2021. Azerbaijan Ganats.Elm, Azerbaijan 256 p. Available at Access date: 04.02.2024: https://www.tai.az/static/img/pdf/120436d0-e312-4270-ab93-5ac2c181c285.pdf
• Hamidian, A., Ghorbani, M., Abdolshahnejad, M., Abdolshahnejad, A., 2015. Qanat traditional eco-technology for ırrigation and water management. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia 4: 119-125.
• Koren, H., Bisesi, M., 2003. Handbook of environmental health. CRC Press. 876p.
• Lightfoot, D.R., 1996. Syrian qanat Romani: history, ecology, abandonment. Journal of Arid Environments 33(3): 321-336.
• Mansouri Daneshvar, M.R., Ebrahimi, M., Ahmadi, F.S., 2023. Efficiency assessment of the environmental variables in the Qanat systems based on major hydrological basins in Iran. Applied Water Science 13: 99.
• Nasiri, F., Mafakheri, M.S., 2015. Qanat water supply systems: a revisit of sustainability perspectives. Environmental Systems Research 4: 13.
• Page, A.L., Keeney, D.R., Baker, D.E., Miller, R.H., Ellis, Jr. R., Rhoades, J.D., 1982. Methods of Soil Analysis: Part 2 Chemical and Microbiological Properties. American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, 1159p.
• Pasha, N.H., Zengin, E., Bayarli, A.T., 2023. Sustainability of water resources of Azerbaijan, future prospects and problems. Journal of Management, Economics, and Industrial Organization 7(2): 24-37.
• Rice, E.W., Bridgewater, L., 2012. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. American Public Health Association, 712 p.
• Shams, A., 1996. A rediscovered-new ‘Qanat’ system in the High Mountains of Sinai Peninsula, with Levantine reflections. Journal of Arid Environments 110: 69-74.
• Somaratne, N., Frizenschaf, J., 2013. Geological control upon groundwater flow and major ion chemistry with influence on basin management in a Coastal Aquifer, South Australia. Journal of Water Resource and Protection 5: 1170-1177.
• Telo da Gama, J., 2023. The role of soils in sustainability, climate change, and ecosystem services: challenges and opportunities. Ecologies 4(3): 552-567.
• WHO, 2017. Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality, 4th Edition, incorporating the 1st addendum. World Health Organization, Geneva. 631p. Available at Access date: 04.02.2024: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/254637/9789241549950-eng.pdf?sequence=1