A geostatistical approach for the spatial distribution of water table depth and assessment of water logged areas at Bustan region, Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The sustainable management and development of the newly reclaimed sandy soils at Bustan region is facing numerous problems. Amongst, poor soil physical and chemical characteristics, low soil fertility, water logging and soil salinity in some areas, and lack of sustainable crop rotation. Due to the expected water shortage in the next decades, water logging and the resultant salinity problems appeared to be the utmost. The aim of this study was to determine the behavior of spatial distribution of water table depth (WTD), zones of water logging, and quality of groundwater for reuse in irrigation, to approach the best sustainable management of about 50,000 feddans (21,000 ha) in Bustan 1 and 2 (BUS1&2) areas. A network of two grid systems monitored the WTD on monthly or bimonthly basis for 18 months, the first with 87 large-scale observation wells (LSOW) covering BUS1&2 areas, and the second with 92 small-scale observation wells (SSOW) distributed as 34, 31, and 27 in three villages suffering from water logging problems: Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (AIAT), Mohamed Refaat (MRFT), and Tawfeek El-Hakeem (THKM), respectively. Water samples from the observation wells were collected to assess the parameters of water quality. Results showed that WTD were ranged from 0.23 to 7.52 m, which reflected the existence of continuous water logging problems in some areas especially at AIAT, MRFT, and THKM villages. The spatial distribution of WTD was characterized through the geostatistical approach, and the fitted variogram for temporal WTD was exponential. Field maps using the Kriging technique were produced to explore the spatial behavior of WTD, and to locate the areas with water logging problems. Results of the Kriging technique were evaluated to assure their accuracy and evidenced by low standard errors and highly significant correlation coefficients. The water logging problem appeared in some areas of Bustan region was mainly due to seepage from irrigation canals, change from the installed modern (sprinkler and drip) irrigation systems to surface system, lack of information on crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling, and insufficient drainage system. This problem represents a major constraint for the sustainable agricultural production at the Bustan region.

Summary in Arabic.

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