Evaluation of the quality of spring waters for their use for irrigation - case study: Central Part of the Republic of Kosovo

Water and its quality are one of the main components for the health of living beings on Earth and equally important for the irrigation of the agricultural crops from which we feed. This study addresses the water quality of 14 springs in relation to their use for irrigation. To achieve this goal, on 08.02.2025, water samples were taken from 14 springs for analysis and water quality evaluation. Parameters such as: temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, TDS, were measured at the source, while the main cations: Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na+, K⁺ and anions: HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄⁻, NO₃⁻ were analyzed in the laboratory. To assess the water quality of the springs, the following indices were calculated: SAR, %Na, PI, KR, MH, SP. The parameters measured, analyzed in the laboratory, and the calculated indices generally showed that the spring water in the study area is suitable for irrigation of agricultural crops that enter the food chain for humans and domestic animals.