Comparative hydrochemical assessment of groundwater quality from different aquifers for irrigation purposes: Study area Armavir Region in Armenia

Groundwater quality is a key parameter in sustainable agriculture and water resource management. Poor groundwater quality directly affects soil properties and crop yields. This research aimed to study and assess the irrigation properties of groundwater in the Armavir region, one of Armenia's major agricultural centers. For the first time, groundwater irrigation suitability in this area has been evaluated using advanced methods, considering both the region's climatic conditions and the impact of anthropogenic factors. Sampling was conducted from 72 wells, 41 of which belonged to unconfined aquifers and 31 to confined aquifers. Often, the same groundwater with different indicators can have significantly different water quality, therefore, it is preferable to use the USSL and Wilcox plots, each of which includes two indicators and gives a more integral assessment. In this case, Electrical conductivity (EC) and various indices (SAR and Na%) were used in the graphical analysis. USSL plot analysis data showed that groundwater from wells in the unconfined aquifer has a high salt and low alkalinity hazard, while groundwater from the confined aquifer is suitable for almost all types of soils. According to Wilcox, most of the wells in both horizons fall into the "good to permissible" category. However, insufficient groundwater quality was observed at some monitoring wells, and long-term irrigation with such groundwater can lead to soil degradation and hinder the implementation of the SDGs.