The chemical response of deep, leached and weathered soils of the Mpumalanga Highveld, South Africa, to irrigation with saline mine water
Master Thesis
2000
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Coal mining in the Highveld region of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa generates between 14 and 30 million litres of waste water per day. Much of the water is saline (TDS> 2500 mg/I) and has high concentrations of dissolved SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. Crop irrigation has been proposed as a useful way to dispose of saline mine water and enhance agricultural productivity in this low rainfall (˂800 mm/year) region. In order to avoid undesirable salinization of the regional groundwater, it is necessary that soils immobilize, at least partially, the dissolved salt load of irrigation water.
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Campbell, R. 2000. The chemical response of deep, leached and weathered soils of the Mpumalanga Highveld, South Africa, to irrigation with saline mine water. University of Cape Town.