Evaluation de l’aptitude physico-chimique et isotopique des eaux souterraines à l’irrigation dans le site agricole de N’Djili Cecomaf, Kinshasa-RD Congo

Prince Bofati Ilonga; Meddi Mohamed; Antoinne Kihumba Mfumu; Belgacem Samir Bekkoussa; Génie-Spirou Kiala Lutonadio; Raphael Mwamba Tshimanga

doi:10.59228/rcst.026.v5.i4.355

Assessment of the physicochemical and isotopic suitability of groundwater for irrigation at the agricultural site of N'Djili Cecomaf, Kinshasa-DR Congo

Authors

Prince Bofati Ilonga Regional School of Water (ERE) & Congo Basin Water Resource Research Center (CRREBaC), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) BP 117 Kinshasa, DR Congo Author
Meddi Mohamed National Higher School of Hydraulics (ENSH), Algeria Author
Antoinne Kihumba Mfumu Nuclear Energy Research Center (CREN-K), University of Kinshasa, DR Congo Author
Belgacem Samir Bekkoussa Water Science and Technology Laboratory, University of Mascara, Algeria Author
Génie-Spirou Kiala Lutonadio Congo Basin Water Resources Research Center (CRREBaC), University of Kinshasa, DR Congo Author
Raphael Mwamba Tshimanga Regional School of Water (ERE) & Congo Basin Water Resource Research Center (CRREBaC), University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN) BP 117 Kinshasa, DR Congo Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59228/rcst.026.v5.i4.355

Keywords:

Assessment, physicochemical, isotopic, groundwater, irrigation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the physicochemical and isotopic quality of groundwater used for irrigation at the N'Djili Cecomaf agricultural site. The mixed approach used was based on hydrochemical and isotopic analyses combined with multivariate statistical analyses. The groundwater samples from the wells were collected during the rainy and dry seasons of 2023 for hydrochemical and isotopic analyses. The results showed that the groundwater is characterized by a dominant chemical facies of the chloride-calcium and magnesium type. PCA revealed weak positive correlations between Ca2+, Mg2+, NO3-, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl- and EC ions in both seasons. Furthermore, the waters are poorly mineralized, with a very low degree of salinity. Nitrate concentrations exceed 50mg/l and are an indicator of the pollution of these waters because of fertilizers and various manures used on the site, but also of contamination by the waters of the N'Djili River, which carry suspended solids, especially during the rainy season. The Oxygen-18/Deuterium and deuterium excess (d-excess) relationships showed that the water captured by these wells comes from meteoric waters resulting from the infiltration of rainfall during the rainy season and/or from interactions with the waters of the N'Djili River, which drain the lowland. These waters are beneficial for plant nutrition. Based on the sodium adsorption ratio, permeability index and magnesium absorption rate, these waters are excellent for irrigation.

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