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Impact of agricultural activity and lithology on groundwater quality in the Merdja area, Tebessa, Algeria

تأثير النشاط الزراعي والمكونات الصخرية على نوعية المياه الجوفية لسهل المرجة المحاذي لمدينة تبسة ، الجزائر

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Abstract

This work presents results of the hydrogeological and hydrochemical studies on groundwater samples from the alluvial aquifer of Merdja in Tébessa, located in the Western part of this town. Its groundwater resources are used mainly for crop irrigation in an agriculture dominated area. Hydrochemical and water quality data obtained through a sampling period (December 2008) and analysis program indicate that nitrate pollution can be a serious problem affecting groundwater due to the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agriculture. The concentration of nitrate in groundwater ranged from 19 to 281 mg/l. Considerable seasonal fluctuations in groundwater quality were observed as a consequence of agricultural practices and other factors such as annual rainfall distribution and the wadi El Kebir flow regime. The chemical composition of the water is not only influenced by agricultural practices, but also by interaction with the alluvial sediments. The dissolution of evaporites accounts for part of the Na+, K+, Cl−, SO 2−4 , Mg2+, and Ca2+, but other processes, such as calcite precipitation and dedolomitization, also contribute to groundwater chemistry.

ملخص

يستعرض هذا العمل نتائج الدراسات الهيدروجيولوجية و الهيدروكيميائية لعينات من المياه الجوفية للطبقة الغرينية لسهل المرجة المحاذي لمدينة تبسة من الجهة الغربية, أين تستخدم المياه الجوفية بشكل رئيسي لسقي المساحات الزراعية.

نوعية المياه و معطيات التحليل الهيدروكيميائي المتحصل عليها خلال شهر ديسمبر 2008 أظهرت قابلية للتلوث بالنترات التي قد تشكل مشكلة خطيرة لهذه المياه الجوفية بسبب الاستخدام المفرط للأسمدة الكيميائية في الزراعة.

يتراوح تركيز النترات في المياه الجوفية بين 19 إلى 281 ملغم/لتر, وترتبط بطبيعة الموسم الزراعي و كمية التساقط الفصلي إلى جانب المياه المستعملة التي تجري خلال وادي الكبير الذي يقطع طوليا سهل المرجة. يرتبط التركيب الكيميائي للمياه أيضا بتفاعلها مع ترسبات الطمي و انحلال التراكيب الملحية الجبسية التي ترفع تركيز العناصر الكيميائية المعدنية و تساهم بذلك و بشكل ملحوظ في التركيبة الكيميائية للمياه الجوفية بسهل المرجة.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been realized through the framework of CNPRU project G02920070001 under the thematic: Systèmes d’irrigation et risques de pollution saline et azoté. Construction d’un indicateur de risque et application sur les plaines de Tébessa, (El Ma El Abiod, La Merdja et Chéria) Algérie. We would like to thank Profs. Mudry J. and Vergotten G. (France).

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Cheikh El Arbi Tébessi University, BP 34-A, 12004, Nahda-Poste, Tébessa, Algeria

    Abdelkader Rouabhia, Fethi Baali & Chemseddinne Fehdi

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  1. Abdelkader Rouabhia
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  2. Fethi Baali
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  3. Chemseddinne Fehdi
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Correspondence to Abdelkader Rouabhia.

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Rouabhia, A., Baali, F. & Fehdi, C. Impact of agricultural activity and lithology on groundwater quality in the Merdja area, Tebessa, Algeria. Arab J Geosci 3, 307–318 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-009-0087-4

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