STUDY OF THE WATER QUALITY IN THE SHATT AL-ARAB RIVER SOUTHERN OF IRAQ: A REVIEW

Abstract

The Shatt Al-Arab River located at southern of Iraq is ranging 8,000 -30,000 km2 in size. Freshwater delivery to such system has been influenced through the water control structures being constructed within neighboring countries and Iraq. Normally, lower than 10% of such marshes were of function. The current review try to summarize the available information on quality of water of such unique and vast ecosystem. These data come from numerous scientific articles. Quality of water variables under consideration including ionic composition, salinity, and various variables inrespect to nutrients status. Such information illustrate that salinity has elevated by time, negatively influencing agriculture in the southe. Generally, concentrations of dissolved O2 are high, waters are normally slightly alkaline, and aquatic submerged vegetation extensively assistes suspended solids settling. NO3 are the major inorganic N where concentrations being low in compareson to other bodies of water. Experiments in limitation of nutrients mentioned that the phytoplankton were N limited.