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SUMMARY:Spatial Modelling of Irrigation Water Quality: Assessing SAR in So
 uth Africa's Agricultural Landscapes
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20240702T103000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20240702T105000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260413T041627Z
UID:indico-contribution-2016@events.chpc.ac.za
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Danielle Roberts (University of KwaZulu-Natal)\, Xol
 ani Nocanda (CSIR Water Centre)\nThe Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) is a cr
 itical metric used to assess the suitability of water for agricultural irr
 igation\, reflecting the potential for sodium to accumulate in soil and ne
 gatively affect crop yield and the ecosystem. In South Africa\, agricultur
 e is a cornerstone of economic development\, contributing significantly to
  GDP and employment. Identifying geographical locations with poor SAR meas
 ures is essential for sustaining agricultural productivity and environment
 al health. In this study\, a generalized additive model (GAM) was employed
  to analyse the spatial distribution of the SAR across South Africa. The m
 odel incorporated a spatial effect based on the geographical coordinates o
 f the sample locations. This allowed for the investigation of how geograph
 ical factors influence the SAR in various regions across South Africa\, wh
 ile controlling for predictors\, such as other water quality parameters. T
 he study made use of data from inorganic water chemistry analysis of sampl
 es from rivers\, dams and lakes that were collected between the years 1970
  to 2011 in South Africa. The significance of this research lies in its ca
 pacity to pinpoint locations with poor water quality\, thereby guiding int
 erventions aimed at soil and water management to avert potential degradati
 on of arable land. The findings of this study not only aid in optimizing r
 esource allocation for improving water quality but also contribute to the 
 broader objectives of sustainable agricultural practices and economic stab
 ility in South Africa. \n\nAlongside this study\, an interactive dashboard
  in under development for the monitoring and evaluation of water quality d
 ata in South Africa. The dashboard incorporates visualizations and importa
 nt summary measures for SAR as well as other various water quality paramet
 ers. This tool democratizes access to vital information\, enabling stakeho
 lders to make informed decisions based on comprehensive water data analysi
 s and visualizations. This tool not only enhances transparency and account
 ability but also facilitates a more targeted and efficient allocation of r
 esources towards improving water quality initiatives in South Africa.\n\nh
 ttps://events.chpc.ac.za/event/134/contributions/2016/
LOCATION:CSIR ICC ICC-G-Ruby - Ruby Auditorium
URL:https://events.chpc.ac.za/event/134/contributions/2016/
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