Shallow Saline Groundwater Research Articles

Influences of paleoclimatic environment and hydrogeochemical evolution on groundwater salinity in an arid inland plain in northwestern China

Highly saline groundwater limits the availability of freshwater resources, especially in arid/semi-arid inland areas with a growing demand but a scarcity of water resources. Understanding the spatial distribution of groundwater salinity and the factors that control their variability is vital for the scientific management of water resources in these areas. Integrated hydrogeochemistry and environmental isotopes (δD, δ18O, 3H, 14C) were used to study the distribution and evolution of fresh and saline groundwater in the Aksu Plain and its links to the paleo-climatic environment since the Late Pleistocene. The results indicated that the sources of groundwater was meteoric water from the Tianshan Mountains. Modern groundwater was found in the piedmont plain and shallow groundwater adjacent to the surface water. The paleo-atmospheric precipitation replenished the deep confined groundwater during the Last Glacial Period. There was no correlation between groundwater salinity and depth. Along the flow path, groundwater salinity has no increasing trend. We found that the paleoclimatic environment and water-rock interaction jointly determine the distribution of groundwater salinity, while evaporation had a slight effect based on the isotopic composition. The long residence time (8–19 ka) and evaporites in sediments (such as halite and gypsum) could provide the conditions for sufficient water-rock interactions, leading to the formation of brackish/saline groundwater. Conversely, the fresh, deep, confined groundwater corresponds to paleo-recharge conditions during the humid Last Glacial Period (21–24.5 ka). Surface water infiltration reduces the salinity of shallow groundwater, but the influence is limited. This study presents a mode that combines hydrogeochemical evolution and paleoclimatic environments to better assess groundwater salinity in the arid inland region.

Seasonal groundwater salinity dynamics in the mangrove supratidal zones based on shallow groundwater salinity and electrical resistivity imaging data

Soil salinity plays an essential role in the growth of mangroves. Mangroves usually grow in intertidal zones. However, in Karimunjawa National Park (KNP), Indonesia, mangroves are also found in supratidal zones. Thus, this study aims to determine why mangroves can grow in this supratidal zone, even during the dry season. We analyze seasonal changes in groundwater flow and salinity dynamics using the hydraulic head, shallow groundwater salinity, and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) data. The result shows that variation in groundwater salinity is caused by seawater intrusion, which is generated by a hydraulic gradient due to the sea level being higher than the water table in KNP. Rainfall and evapotranspiration, which change seasonally, likely affect the water table fluctuation and salt concentration. ERI images indicate this seawater intrusion in the top sediment up to the bedrock boundary. However, the resistivity difference in the wet and dry seasons shows that remarkable resistivity change occurs at the deeper layer (50–60 m below ground level (BGL)), likely due to freshwater recharge from rainwater on the land side. Groundwater in the KNP is shallow and saline; thus, mangroves in this zone, e.g., Ceriops tagal and Lumnitzera racemosa, can grow because their roots can reach this groundwater. These mangrove species can still grow in this zone even though the shallow groundwater is very saline (46–50 ppt). However, this condition might cause these mangroves to grow stunted. Thus, freshwater availability is crucial for mangrove growth in this supratidal zone to dilute this high groundwater salinity.

The combined impact of shallow groundwater and soil salinity on evapotranspiration using remote sensing in an agricultural alluvial setting

Study regionThe Nile Delta, Egypt Study focusShallow groundwater (GW) and soil salinity are major issues for irrigated agriculture, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, but more research is needed to link both issues with evapotranspiration. Satellite-based evapotranspiration from Landsat images (ETLS) has the potential to be an efficient method of estimating evapotranspiration (ET), which can integrate ETLS with groundwater and soil salinity, particularly in data-scarce areas. This study examines shallow GW and soil salinity effects on crop water use in the North Nile Delta during the summer season of 2017 and winter season of 2017/2018. New hydrological insights for the regionThe ETLS was moderately affected by groundwater depth (GWD), decreasing from 4.3 to 4.0 mm day−1 when GWD was reduced from 75 to 120 cm, then increasing to 4.4 mm day−1 when GWD was increased to 140 cm. The study also highlighted a significant negative correlation between ETgw and GWD; which increased with shallower GW (>75 cm) and then decreased with deeper GW. The shallower the GW, the greater the contribution to crop water requirements, with GW contributing 1.6 and 1.7 mm day−1 for seed melon and cotton, respectively, while GW contributed 0.9 mm day−1 for sugar beet and 1.3 mm day−1 for wheat and clover. The study's findings highlight the importance of remote sensing and GIS techniques for quickly and cheaply assessing the impact of shallow GW and soil salinity on evapotranspiration over large geographic areas.

The Spatio-Temporal Dynamic Patterns of Shallow Groundwater Level and Salinity: The Yellow River Delta, China

Shallow groundwater in coastal aquifers is a highly dynamic and complex system with a high risk of seawater intrusion. Analyzing the spatio-temporal dynamic patterns of groundwater can help to manage the groundwater resource and prevent it from degradation. Based on the groundwater level (GWL) and electrical conductivity (EC) monitoring data of 18 observation wells in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) from 2004 to 2010, this research analyses the groundwater dynamics using a robust seasonal trend decomposition technique (STL) and spatial interpolation method to detect the groundwater spatio-temporal dynamic patterns of groundwater level and salinity. Combined with hydro-climatic data, the Pearson correlation method and the Mann-Kendall (MK) trend analysis were used to further reveal the impacts that induce their trends and seasonal variations. Our analyses show that the risk of seawater intrusion into local shallow aquifers in this region is high, with the mean groundwater level over 42% of the region lower than the local sea level, and the mean groundwater EC over 96% of the region met the standards for seawater intrusion. In addition, the trends of groundwater level generally declined by 0.01~0.45 m/a and salinity increased by 1.153~25.608 μs/cm.a, which are consistent with the trend of precipitation decline. The seasonal dynamics of groundwater level and salinity are highly correlated with the seasonal components of rainfall and evaporation. It can be concluded that the extent of seawater intrusion will increase in the future with sea level rise. The approaches used in this study proved to be effective and can certainly serve as an example for the analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of groundwater in other coastal regions.

Numerical Simulation of Soil Water–Salt Dynamics and Agricultural Production in Reclaiming Coastal Areas Using Subsurface Pipe Drainage

Soil salinization induced by shallow saline groundwater in coastal areas can be managed using subsurface pipe drainage (SPD) for agricultural land reclamation. However, a reasonable SPD system layout should comprehensively consider local hydrological conditions and crop physiological characteristics based on long-term model evaluations. The objectives of this study were to test the applicability of a crop growth model (AquaCrop) for simulating winter wheat growth in SPD-applied fields by employing the water table behaviors predicted by the soil hydrologic model HYDRUS. Model calibration and validation based on field observations suggested that HYDRUS accurately predicted the distributions of soil water–salt dynamics, and the seasonal variations of canopy cover and biomass production predicted by AquaCrop were close to the measured values. The simulation scenarios considering the long-term effect of groundwater salinity (10.53, 21.06, and 31.59 g L−1 for low, medium, and high levels), drain spacing (10, 20, 30, 40 m, and no-SPD), and precipitation category (dry, normal, and wet year) on soil solute transport, grain yield (GY), water productivity (WP), and groundwater supply (GS) were further explored using a combination of HYDRUS and AquaCrop. The simulation results indicated that narrowing the drain spacing could improve the desalination performance of SPD, but there was no continuous downward trend of soil solute concentration during the long-term application of SPD when groundwater salinity was constant. The SPD application could improve grain yield by 0.81–1.65 t ha−1, water productivity by 0.13–0.35 kg m−3, and groundwater supply by 6.06–31.03 mm compared to the no-SPD scenarios, but such increases would be less pronounced in dry years with groundwater salinity at the low level. This study demonstrated that the co-application of hydrologic and crop growth models is a feasible method for revealing the effects of SPD on agricultural land reclamation in coastal areas.

Heat, moisture, and salt transport in the soil profile under surface and subsurface drip irrigation methods in the presence of shallow saline groundwater

Heat, moisture, and salt transport in the soil profile under surface and subsurface drip irrigation methods in the presence of shallow saline groundwater

Hydrogeological processes and hydrochemical effects in the Manas river catchment, Northwest China, over the past 60 years

The arid inland regions around the world are suffering from extreme water shortages and ecological crises due to the impacts of climate change and enhanced human activities. This study used multiple methods including trend and abrupt analysis, correlation analysis, water-balance analysis, and hydrochemical analysis to evaluate the hydrogeological processes and hydrochemical effects in 5 periods in the Manas River catchment, a typical arid inland catchment in China. The results show that groundwater storage in the catchment decreased by 5.45 × 108 m3 over the past 60 years, while glacial melt, snowmelt, and precipitation showed an increasing trend since the 1980 s. A drop in the groundwater level in the alluvial fan and a 28 % reduction in spring discharge in the lower alluvial fan since 1959 were caused by reduced river infiltration owing to the water diversion projects. Meanwhile, the concentrations of SO42- and Cl- in the alluvial fan groundwater have more than doubled over the period 1957–2018 as a result of the decrease of both groundwater level and flow rate. Long-term over-exploitation of groundwater associated with irrigation after 1978 strongly depleted the groundwater storage and altered the flow path of groundwater in the oasis zone. In addition, the expansion of arable land and increased temperatures enhanced evapotranspiration and salinization of shallow groundwater in the oasis and desert zones. Based on the results, we propose making full use of natural underground reservoirs to increase infiltration of river water and flood water in the alluvial fan zone, and reducing the arable land area to ensure the sustainability of water resources and ecology in the middle and lower reaches of the catchment. The results will provide reference for the sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection in arid inland regions and similar catchments worldwide.

Surface Groundwater Pollution Dynamics Over 2015-2020 in the Salt Drying Pond of Pademawu Subdistrict, Madura, Indonesia

Pamekasan coastal area is the center of salt production concentrated in the Pademawu subdistrict with the ponds area of 740.96 ha. The sufficiently close distance of salt ponds to settlement areas allows several issues, such as shallow groundwater salinization. This study aimed to determine the salt pond’s degradation over five years (2015-2020) and its influence on the salinization issue in Pademawu. We compare groundwater quality parameters (conductivity, TDS, the depth of shallow surface groundwater, and salinity) surveyed in 2015 and 2020, correlated to salt pond area alterations. Over five years of measurement, it was found that conductivity declined, reaching 2779.94 µS/cm. Based on TDS deterioration, groundwater transformed from brackish to freshwater in 2020. By contrast, the depth of shallow groundwater-surface increased by almost one meter. The freshwater area also increased by 22% over five years based on conductivity classification. Groundwater quality dynamics are related to the alteration of the salt pond area. On the other hand, the significant increase in rainfall intensity, which is not beneficial for salt agriculture, results in the salt pond area deterioration, thereby declining surface groundwater salinity in Pademawu due to the less interaction between Cl and groundwater within aquifers. Although the groundwater pollution induced by seawater intrusion and salinization declined in 2020, re-organizing the distance between salt ponds and the settlement area in Pademawu is crucial to minimize further groundwater pollution. 
 Keywords : Dynamics; pollution; groundwater; salt agriculture; Pademawu
 
 Copyright (c) 2022 Geosfera Indonesia and Department of Geography Education, University of Jember
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share A like 4.0 International License

Spatial patterns and mass balance of sodium in near-surface peat of a constructed fen

At the Nikanotee Fen Watershed, a pioneering reclamation project in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, elevated sodium (Na+) in the porewater of mine-waste materials has been shown to migrate to the fen through groundwater, likely influencing fen vegetation health. Given the potential of Na+ to steer the ecological development of the fen, the goal of this research is to quantify the spatial distribution of Na+ and to characterize the Na+ mass balance of the surface and shallow subsurface of the fen. For a given time, the highest Na+ concentrations were generally found in the wettest part of the fen in the southwestern corner, and the lowest in the relatively dry northeast corner near the drainage outlet. Na+ concentrations in ponded surface water were responsive to rainfall-induced dilution and evapoconcentration, whereas porewater salinity in shallow groundwater was insensitive to meteorological conditions. Surface discharge controlled the mass efflux of Na+ from the system at an estimated average rate of 4 kg∙day−1 between June and August. Given the relatively small proportion of salt being flushed annually, and the greater rate of mass inflow relative to export, elevated salinity will likely be sustained for several decades. Since elevated Na+ concentrations are impacting the rooting zone of vegetation and have exceeded the salinity stress-threshold of mosses, targeting salt-tolerant vegetation will be important to maintain carbon accumulation in constructed systems.

Ecological environmental effects of Yellow River irrigation revealed by isotope and ion hydrochemistry in the Yinchuan Plain, Northwest China

• A study of salinization of shallow groundwater in the arid region. • Water hydrochemistry mainly conctroled by water–rock interactions and evaporation. • Yellow River Irrigation affects the shallow groundwater table and water quality. • Unreasonable irrigation has negative effects on the Lake ecosystem. • Increasing the amount of water diversion can reduce salinization. Water is the most critical resource that affects the stability of ecosystems and socio-economic development in arid and semi-arid regions. The rational development and utilization of water resources in Yinchuan Plain play a vital role in supporting and leading its ecological environment protection and high-quality agricultural development. Irrigation water from the Yellow River and groundwater are the main water resources of Yinchuan Plain. To understand the ecological impact of the Yellow River irrigation, the research analyzed the interaction between surface water and shallow groundwater using isotope hydrochemical method. The results show that both surface water and shallow groundwater are neutral and alkaline, the hydraulic relationships among the water bodies are strong. The correlation between 17 O-excess and δ 18 O depends on the proportions of precipitation recharge and the intensity of evaporation. The chemical characteristics of water are controlled by evaporation, irrigation activities and water–rock interactions. Hydrochemical characteristics indicate that Yellow River irrigation has little impact on the Yellow River, but it has caused a rise in the groundwater level, intensified evaporation, and aggravated soil salinization. Isotopes indicate that Water-Saving Transformation Project has brought about a new ecological problem-lake shrinkage while reducing salinization. Therefore, we propose to moderately increase the amount of water diversion to flush the groundwater ions and extract the groundwater for human activities during the irrigation period to reduce salinization and water resource shortage. Salinization should be considered in relation to sustainable agricultural development and ecological environment health in Yinchuan Plain as well as other similar arid regions.

Geophysical Characterization in the Shallow Water Estuarine Lakes of the Southern Everglades, Florida

Anthropogenic activities have greatly modified freshwater flows through Everglades National Park (ENP) such that saltwater has intruded extensively inland from the coastline, causing coastal lakes and their ecosystems to be exposed to varying salinity conditions. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) makes an effort to restore the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwater flow in ENP with a goal of reducing salinity conditions within the coastal communities and adjacent estuaries. An understanding of the temporal and spatial variations of surface water and shallow groundwater salinity in the coastal lakes of ENP is needed to evaluate restoration efforts. Geophysical surveys were conducted between 2016 to 2019 using electrical resistivity and electromagnetic (EM) methods in the coastal lakes of ENP. A mean local formation factor of 10.7 ± 1.8 was calculated for the region by comparing the lakes’ bottom formation inverted electrical resistivity soundings with coincident pore water resistivity measured in groundwater wells. The conductivity of surface and groundwater increased during the dry season, reflecting decreased precipitation, increased evapotranspiration, and the increasing influence of saline water from Florida Bay. Spatially, salinity in the lakes increased from west to east in the surface water with an opposite trend observed in the shallow groundwater. Along the south to north inland direction, the salinity of both surface water and groundwater decreased. This study demonstrates that floating electrical resistivity and EM methods can characterize the subsurface formation resistivity and describe temporal and spatial patterns of surface and shallow groundwater conductivity.

Mapping shallow groundwater salinity in a coastal urban setting to assess exposure of municipal assets

Study regionChristchurch, New Zealand. Study focusLow-lying coastal cities worldwide are vulnerable to shallow groundwater salinization caused by saltwater intrusion and anthropogenic activities. Shallow groundwater salinization can have cascading negative impacts on municipal assets, but this is rarely considered compared to impacts of salinization on water supply. Here, shallow groundwater salinity was sampled at high spatial resolution (1.3 piezometer/km2), then mapped and spatially interpolated. This was possible due to a uniquely extensive set of shallow piezometers installed in response to the 2010–11 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence to assess liquefaction risk. The municipal assets located within the brackish groundwater areas were highlighted. New hydrological insights for the regionBrackish groundwater areas were centred on a spit of coastal sand dunes and inside the meander of a tidal river with poorly drained soils. The municipal assets located within these areas include: (i) wastewater and stormwater pipes constructed from steel-reinforced concrete, which, if damaged, are vulnerable to premature failure when exposed to chloride underwater, and (ii) 41 parks and reserves totalling 236 ha, within which salt-intolerant groundwater-dependent species are at risk. This research highlights the importance of determining areas of saline shallow groundwater in low-lying coastal urban settings and the co-located municipal assets to allow the prioritisation of sites for future monitoring and management.

Evaluating and Modeling of the Seedling Growth Ability of Wheat Seeds as Affected by Shallow-Saline Groundwater Conditions

Evaluating and Modeling of the Seedling Growth Ability of Wheat Seeds as Affected by Shallow-Saline Groundwater Conditions

Shallow Groundwater Salinization and Irrigation Groundwater Quality in the Jiaokou Irrigation District, North China

Shallow Groundwater Salinization and Irrigation Groundwater Quality in the Jiaokou Irrigation District, North China

Natural Background Level and Contamination of Shallow Groundwater Salinity in Various Aquifers in a Coastal Urbanized Area, South China

Assessing natural background levels (NBLs) of chemical components in groundwater is useful for the evaluation of groundwater contamination in urbanized areas. The present study assessed the NBL of total dissolved solids (TDS) in various groundwater units in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) where urbanization is a large scale and discussed factors controlling groundwater salinity contamination in the PRD. Results showed that the NBL of TDS in groundwater in the coastal-alluvial plain was more than 1.5 times that in other groundwater units because of the seawater intrusion in this groundwater unit. By contrast, interactions of water and soils/rocks were the main factors controlling the NBLs of TDS in other groundwater units. Groundwater salinity contamination in the PRD was positively correlated with the urbanization level. Wastewater from township-village enterprises and industrial wastewater were likely to be the main sources for groundwater salinity contamination in the PRD. Moreover, the wastewater leakage from sewer systems was one of the main pathways for groundwater salinity contamination in urbanized areas, because the proportion of groundwater salinity contamination in urbanized areas formed in 1988–1998 was more than 1.5 times that in urbanized areas formed in 1998–2006 regardless of groundwater units. Besides, sewage irrigation and leakage of landfill leachate were also important sources for groundwater salinity contamination in the PRD.

Modeling and Management Option Analysis for Saline Groundwater Drainage in a Deltaic Island

Understanding the interactions between shallow saline groundwater and surface water is crucial for managing water logging in deltaic islands. Water logging conditions result in the accumulation of salt in the root zone of crops and detrimentally affect agriculture in the economically and socially backward deltaic region of West Bengal and Bangladesh. In this paper, we undertook a modeling study of surface water–groundwater interactions in the Gosaba Island of Sundarbans region of the Ganges delta using MODFLOW followed by comprehensive parameter sensitivity analysis. Further, scenario analyses (i.e., no-drain, single drain, three drains) were undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of drainage infrastructure to reduce saline water logging conditions. The evaluation indicated that installation of three drains can remove water at a rate of up to −123.3 m3day−1 and lower the water table up to 0.4 m. The single drain management scenario could divert water at the rate of −77.9 m3day−1 during post monsoon season, lowering the shallow saline groundwater table up to 0.1 m. This preliminary modeling study shows encouraging results to consider drainage management as to solve the increasing challenge of water logging and salinity management in the deltaic region. The insights will be useful for farmers and policymakers in the region for planning various sustainable saline groundwater management. Building drainage infrastructure could potentially be part of initiatives like the national employment guarantee scheme in India. In the future, this model can be coupled with solute transport models for understanding the current status and future expansion of salinity in the study area. Further modeling and optimization analysis can help identify the optimal depth and spacing of drains.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Salinity in the Yangtze River Estuary Using Electromagnetic Induction

Soil salt-water dynamics in the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) is complex and soil salinity is an obstacle to regional agricultural production and the ecological environment in the YRE. Runoff into the sea is reduced during the impoundment period as the result of the water-storing process of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which causes serious seawater intrusion. Soil salinity is a problem due to shallow and saline groundwater under serious seawater intrusion in the YRE. In this research, we focused on the temporal variation and spatial distribution characteristics of soil salinity in the YRE using geostatistics combined with proximally sensed information obtained by an electromagnetic induction (EM) survey method in typical years under the impoundment of the TGR. The EM survey with proximal sensing method was applied to perform soil salinity survey in field in the Yangtze River Estuary, allowing quick determination and quantitative assessment of spatial and temporal variation of soil salinity from 2006 to 2017. We developed regional soil salinity survey and mapping by coupling limited laboratory data with proximal sensed data obtained from EM. We interpreted the soil electrical conductivity by constructing a linear model between the apparent electrical conductivity data measured by an EM 38 device and the soil electrical conductivity (EC) of soil samples measured in laboratory. Then, soil electrical conductivity was converted to soil salt content (soil salinity g kg−1) through established linear regression model based on the laboratory data of soil salinity and soil EC. Semivariograms of regional soil salinity in the survey years were fitted and ordinary kriging interpolation was applied in interpolation and mapping of regional soil salinity. The cross-validation results showed that the prediction results were acceptable. The soil salinity distribution under different survey years was presented and the area of salt affected soil was calculated using geostatistics method. The results of spatial distribution of soil salinity showed that soil salinity near the riverbanks and coastlines was higher than that of inland. The spatial distribution of groundwater depth and salinity revealed that shallow groundwater and high groundwater salinity influenced the spatial distribution characteristics of soil salinity. Under long-term impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir, the variation of soil salinity in different hydrological years was analyzed. Results showed that the area affected by soil salinity gradually increased in different hydrological year types under the impoundment of the TGR.

Quantification of surface water and groundwater salinity sources in irrigated lowland area of North China Plain

AbstractSeasonally variation of water salinity is observed worldwide, the mechanisms of water salinity are not well understood due to natural factors and anthropogenic activities. Quantification water salinity source are challenging since complex influence factors, especially in agricultural regions irrigated with multi‐water sources. In the lowland area of North China Plain, transferred water, brackish shallow groundwater and fresh deep groundwater were combinative utilized to relieve prominent contradictions between regional water shortages and grain production. In this study, influence factors of surface water (canal water, pond water) and shallow groundwater salinity were identified and quantified through statistical analysis, deuterium excess, and ionic relationship. Salinity of canal water and pond water increased in dry season and decreased in rainy season, while salinity of shallow groundwater decreased in dry season after water transfer and rainy season, but increased in dry season. Evaporation and mineral dissolution were main factors for surface water salinity in dry season, with mineral dissolution was the more important one. The contribution ratio of evaporation and mineral dissolution for canal salinity were 4.4 and 49.1% in dry season after water transfer, 7.1 and 34.4% in dry season, and that for pond water salinity were 12.4 and 18.3% in dry season, respectively. Precipitation and surface runoff were main factors for surface water salinity in rainy season. The contribution of surface runoff for canal water and pond water salinity were 66.1 and 45.8%, respectively. Salinity of canal water and shallow groundwater was temporary decreased by water transfer. Domestic sewage from rural areas had larger influence than agricultural activities for salinity increase of pond water and shallow groundwater. Mineral dissolution was the main contributor for shallow groundwater salinity, with contribution ratio larger than 60% in different periods. This study demonstrated and quantified salinity source of surface water and shallow groundwater and may deepen our understanding of water management under multi‐water resources utilization.

Space-time modelling of groundwater level and salinity

Soil salinization resulting from shallow saline groundwater is a major global environmental issue causing land degradation, especially in semi-arid regions such as Australia. The adverse impact of shallow saline groundwater on soil salinization varies in space and time due to the variation in groundwater levels and salt concentration. Understanding the spatio-temporal variation is therefore vital to develop an effective salinity management strategy. In New South Wales, Australia, a hydrogeological landscape unit approach is generally applied, based on spatial information and expert operators, classifying the landscape in relation to landscape and climate. In this paper, a data science approach (random forest model) is introduced, based on historical groundwater quality and quantity data providing predictions in a 4-dimensional space. As a case study, we demonstrate the spatio-temporal factors impacting standing water levels (SWL) and associated salinity and predict the spatial and temporal variability in the Muttama catchment (1059 km2), in NSW, south eastern Australia. The random forest model explains 77% of the variance in the groundwater salinity (electrical conductivity) and 65% of the SWL. Spatial factors were the most significant variables determining the space-time variation in groundwater salinity and the occurrence of groundwater at the surface. Drilled piezometer depth and elevation are dominant factors controlling SWL, while salinity is mainly determined by underlying geology. The methodology in this study predicts salinity and SWL in the landscape at fine scales, through time, improving options for salinity management.

Evolution of soil salinity and the critical ratio of drainage to irrigation (CRDI) in the Weigan Oasis in the Tarim Basin

Soil salt accumulation and salt leaching are very important issues for a long-term irrigation-dominated oasis with shallow groundwater in arid land. The critical ratio of drainage to irrigation (CRDI) was defined and determined to help the guide drainage and irrigation practices and maintain sustainable oasis agricultural development. This study aimed to identify the soil salinity evolution under long-term irrigation and to determine the threshold of irrigation to drainage with land-use change and groundwater depth by regression, water and salt balance, and geostatistical analysis. The results showed that the soil salinity in 0–20 cm soil depth has decreased greatly in the Weigan Oasis over the past 60 years, with an annual average decrease of 0.68 g·kg−1 in the Weigan Oasis. The soil salt content generally increases from inside to outside of the region and varies from the upperstream to downstream. In the past 30 years, land-use change has caused a sharp reduction in the salinity in the region, and the process of irrigation and drainage has made a decrease in the total salt of the irrigated district of 207.38 × 105 t. Meanwhile, shallow groundwater depth and salinity are the main factors influencing soil salinization in this fluvial oasis. A CRDI is determined to be 8.20% in the Weigan Oasis. In conclusion, our study provides scientific support for the prevention and control of regional soil salinization, as well as a managerial basis for the rational allocation of water resources in long-term irrigation-dominated oasis.