Deterioration of the quality of ground water in agricultural region. Case Mitidja (Algeria) (original) (raw)

Hydrochemistry and Nitrate Pollution of Groundwater in the Alluvial Aquifer of the Eastern Mitidja (Algeria)

Al-Qadisiyah Journal For Agriculture Sciences

The study carried out in the eastern Mitidja (Algeria) using groundwater chemistry data is aimed at clarifying the geochemical behavior of the alluvial groundwater as well as assessing the degree of nitrate contamination. The aquifer is characterized by a heterogeneous lithology marked by alternating levels of alluvium, gravel, sand and clay. The chemical facies encountered are: Na-Cl type with 52.7%, Mixed Ca-Mg-Cl type with 29.1%, Mixed Ca-Na-HCO 3 type with 9.1% and Ca-HCO 3 type with 9.1%. The interpretation of the analytical data shows that water mineralization is controlled by many ions Na+, SO42-, Cl-, Ca2+ and HCO3-. The Gibbs diagram suggests that weathering rock is the determining factor in the current chemical composition of groundwater. Agricultural activity is the main source of groundwater contamination by nitrates. Most of the water points tested have NO3 values very close to the critical threshold of 50 mg/l, the world health organization (WHO) drinking water reference value. By comparing this with the "human affected value" of 13 mg/l, 95% of the analyzed waters are considered contaminated. This water degradation is linked to the widespread use of nitrogen fertilizers, agricultural practices and increasing urbanization.

Predicting nitrate pollution of Mitidja plain groundwater (Northern Algiers - Algeria)

Environmental Software, 1989

The blitid.ja aquifer, a 1300 Era2 p].alfl orit:tlt.,_.d east w,:sl , n-,'th of .-klger'ili, it; ~evy ii,H,octant tn size and role. it is infortunately very sensitive to l,O].iuttou.

Assessment of Groundwater Quality and its Suitability for Agricultural Uses in the Nador Plain, North of Algeria

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Anthropogenic contamination of groundwater with nitrate in arid region: Case study of southern Hodna (Algeria)

2013

In southern Hodna, an arid region of Algeria, the extension of irrigated agriculture and overexploitation of groundwaters have led to a rupture with traditional land use by pastoralism. Due to the arid conditions, groundwaters are the only water resources for man and irrigation. This study focuses on nitrate contamination of groundwaters and its increase since the last 40 years, on the basis of two archives and recent analyses. The chemical facies of waters is sulphate-chloride, the risk of salinity is moderate to large. The sodicity risk, as estimated by the SAR, is low due to the large salinity and the sandy soil texture. Nitrate contamination of deep groundwater is a clear evidence when recent data are compared to the historical data. From 1996 to 2008, the proportion of samples with NO 3 concentrations larger than 50 mg/L increases from 24 to 61 %, the proportion of samples with NO 3 concentrations larger than 100 mg/L increases from 12 to 27 %. The study points at a general contamination of aquifers from anthropic origin: phreatic water was already contaminated when pastoralism was dominant (1967); as population increased and irrigation agriculture developed with large use of N-fertilizers and organic amendments, contamination extended spatially and vertically to deep aquifer. To remediate this contamination, fertilizers should be fractionated and limited to plant requirements on the basis of soil and plant analyses. Excess of irrigation should be avoided. Soil surface should be continuously covered to prevent nitrate leaching. Secondly, more efficient irrigation techniques, such as localized irrigation, should be implemented, with adaptation of crop systems and fertilizer inputs to arid conditions. Farmers should then be trained; simultaneously, local agronomic references that are presently lacking should be acquired.

Effect of the agriculture on the quality of groundwater in the alluvial aquifer of the Tadjenanet area (eastern Algeria)

Geomatics, Landmanagement and Landscape

The region of Tadjenanet is in eastern Algeria in the high plains, characterized by a varied age detritus Mio-Plio-Quaternary. Some geological formations can be an important source of groundwater (alluvial sand, shell limestone, gravel). Its location in semi-arid area involves evaporation pronounced even tilt the balance in a chronic deficit, excluding periods characterized by rainfall events. Agriculture in the study area is the first socioeconomic activity and the largest consumer of water resources. It is therefore necessary to consider for effective water management. Indeed, the combination of hydrogeological and hydro chemical geological mapping, geophysics, harvested from field data and their interpretations can be an excellent tool for deciding the suitability of water for irrigation. The analysis of the physicochemical data shows an increase in the concentration of nitrates reaching 200 mg • l-1 , as well as the analysis by the Richards SAR parameter shows that most groundwater samples are generally suitable for agricultural purposes with 33%, belong characterizing poor quality. Indeed, the groundwater in the region generally requires prior treatment before consumption and use depending on the type of crop. The assessment of the quality of the water in the region and its consequences on the soil and the types of crops has enabled the authorities concerned to manage the water supply adequately to preserve and protect this vital source for the future from any risk of contamination.

Groundwater Contamination by Nutrients: Case of Gadaïne-Ain Yaghout Plain (North of Batna), Algeria

2017

In Algeria, groundwater face a risk of degradation due to uncontrolled releases, intensive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture as well as disorderly exploitation of this resource. The consequences are a chemical modification of the water, making it unsuitable for desired uses, which makes the field of water increasingly vital and fragile requiring for its preservation monitoring and control of the management of this resource. To determine the causes of the progressive degradation of the chemical quality of groundwater, this study was devoted to the knowledge of the geological and hydrogeological characteristics of the plain Gadaine - Ain Yaghout (North of the city of Batna) and interpretation of physico-chemical analysis of water samples with highlighting the various sources of pollution and their impact on groundwater of the plain.

Impact of agricultural activities on the evolution of nitrate and nitrite levels in groundwater of Annaba plain (North East of Algeria

Impact of agricultural activities on the evolution of nitrate and nitrite levels in groundwater of Annaba plain (North East of Algeria), 2016

Annaba plain (North East of Algeria) knows intensive farming of various crops. Use is made in the field, based fertilizer nitrogen mainly phosphate. A total of 29 well water samples have been analyzed for the period from December 2013 to assess the impact of these fertilizers on the quality of water resources. Given the nature of the fertilizers used, the following key parameters were targeted: nitrates, nitrites and phosphates, electrical conductivity. It is clear from these investigations those higher contents of nitrates, nitrites with respective maximum values of 130 mg.l-1 , 94 mg.l-1 , phosphorus soluble form, have lower levels to acceptable standards that exceed 5.1 mg.l-1 .

Quantification and contribution of nitrogen inputs in the soil on groundwater contamination by nitrates: Valley of High-Cheliff (North Algerian)

TOPRAK SU DERGİSİ, 2015

Nitrogen (N 2 ) is an essential nutrient for plants. However, when the application of nitrogen exceeds the needs of the plant and the denitrification capacity, nitrogen can migrate to groundwater, usually in the form of nitrates. The transfer of nitrates in soil results from a large number of interdependent factors: climatic, agrological, and agronomic. The Conditions of interaction of these factors can lead to situations more or less favorable to leaching of nitrates. Thus, according to some studies in agronomy, high levels of nitrate pollution observed result from an increase in the mineralization capacity of soils under the cumulative effect of intensive farming practices. Many European countries and some U.S. states are already based on the nitrate test for establishing the optimum nitrogen doses. In agricultural areas, the use of large amounts of mineral fertilizers and the increased volume of animal waste as a result of development of breeding cause nitrogen excess surplus capacity utilization by the vegetation, it is driven into groundwater and causes an increase in nitrate concentrations. With a total annual volume of agricultural production of around 1.5 million tons, agriculture is certainly the pole par excellence of the Hight-Cheliff. The main crops are arboriculture and gardening. Potatoes covered nearly half (48%) of the total volume of agricultural production, it is a major consumer of Nitrogen fertilizers. For the purpose of estimate the amount of leachable nitrogen, nitrogen balance was drawn up , see all the inputs and outputs of nitrogen were almost estimated. This study associate groundwater nitrate pollution with agricultural activity in the high-Cheliff intensive farming regions in Algeria. The spatial probability distribution of nitrate contents, based on nonlinear methods of indicatory kriging, shows the spatial evolution of nitrate through a map established for the year 2011 during high waters. The obtained results show that the areas exceeding nitrate concentrations of 50ppm, occupy more than 80% of the aquifer area, it appears, from this map, the most affected areas are those for with the level of intensification of nitrogen fertilization is strongest specially in the zone of potatoes crops. These results are coherent with the experimental data, which show an average nitrate concentration value of 75ppm, significantly higher than the WHO'S maximum contaminant level. In this study the estimate of the total nitrogen inputs to soils of the valley was 247Kg.ha -1 for this year and compared it with the results of Computer models such as PILOTEN used to analyze alternative management practices together with soil, plant, and climate characteristics to determine nitrogen leached under the potatoes crops ( hot spot areas ).The result show that 60% of nitrogen input is leaching under potato crops which coherent with the spatial evolution of nitrate.

Impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality for a semi-arid region in Algeria. The case of the Merdja plain

Sécheresse, 2009

Located at the northeastern part of Morocco, the plain of Triffa is characterized by a semi-arid climate where water resources are rather fragile and influenced by a highly irregular rainfall distribution, both in time (annual and interannual distribution) and in space. The mean annual rainfall does not exceed 240 mm. In the Triffa plain, the impact of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater resources is reflected both by (a) the decrease in the piezometric level due to the over exploitation and droughts and (b) the deterioration of the chemical quality of water. Currently, this situation is felt mainly by the farmers. The unconfined aquifer is under stress due to the increase of the pollution rate, especially by nitrates that are above the WHO standards, and salinity. Organochlorine pesticides are ubiquitous and persistent organic pollutants used widely in agriculture. Due to their extensive use in agriculture, organic environment contaminants such as hexachlorocyclohexane, DDT, and DDD along organochlorine pesticides are distributed globally by transport through water. Pesticides such as aldrin, lindane, and heptachlor have also been detected and were considered as indicators showing the need to inform and to train farmers on the pesticides and fertilizers use in order to reduce the threat of groundwater contamination.

ASSESSMENT AND MODELING THE INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN INPUT IN THE SOIL ON GROUNDWATER NITRATE POLLUTION: PLAIN OF UPPER-CHELIFF (NORTH ALGERIA

The present study associates groundwater nitrate pollution with agricultural activity in the Upper-Cheliff wich is known for intensive farming practices. The indicatory kriging method is used in order to elaborate a map of the spatial probability distribution of nitrate concentration that exceeds a threshold value of 50ppm during high watering period for the year 2012. The obtained results show that the areas exceeding nitrate concentrations of 50 ppm, occupy more than 80% of the Upper-Cheliff aquifer area. It appears, from this map, the most affected areas are those for which the level of intensification of the N-fertilizers is the strongest (zone of garden farming, potatoes in particular) throw condensed.These results are coherent with the experimental data, which show an average nitrate concentration value of 75 ppm, significantly higher than the World Health Organization (WHO)'S standards. In this study, the total nitrogen brought to the soils of the Upper-Cheliff is estimated at 247 kg ha-1 for this year, and compared to the results of New Computer models such as PILOTEN used to analyze alternative management practices together with soil, plant, and climate characteristics to determine the amount of nitrogen leached under the potatoes crops. The result of this model show that 60% of nitrogen input is leaching under potato crops which is relevant to the map showing the spatial evolution of nitrate. Nitrate pollution in the groundwater of the Upper-Cheliff appears to be significant and driven by the application of both inorganic fertilizer and land use.