This work was conducted with the objective of developing a methodology for classification of the ionic composition of the irrigation water using multiple linear regression. A Stepwise Regression Analysis model was tested, using electrical conductivity as the dependent variable and analyzed ions calcium, sodium, potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate and chlorides as the independent variables in all tested models. All water samples were collected by the farmers of the region where this work was conducted. The regression models were adjusted using the water analysis database from the ESAM's Analysis Laboratory (Laboratório de Análises de Água e Fertilidade do Solo da Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró - LAAFS/ESAM). The linear model, adjusted using the Stepwise Regression Procedure, shows that the degree of model adjustment tested depends upon geological formation of watersheds and whether it is collected in a river or tubular wells. The classification of the water in calcareous region of the Chapada do Apodi is calcic-sodic, calcic or choride if this source was tubular well, piezometric well (drilled in unconfined water denominated in the region as poço amazonas) or surface rivers and lagoons water, respectively. In Baixo Açu region, these waters were classified as sodic, magnesian-sodic or sodic depending if the source collected is a tubular well (drilled in Açu sedimentary geological formation), piezometric well or superficial water, respectivelly.
water classification; irrigation water; multiple linear regression
