A survey of groundwater levels and hydrogeochemistry in irrigated fields in the Karamay Agricultural Development Area, northwest China: Implications for soil and groundwater salinity resulting from surface water transfer for irrigation

Analysis of the water budget, along with hydrochemistry and stable isotopes in shallow groundwater were carried out in the Karamay Agricultural Development Area (KADA) in order to assess the impact of transfer of irrigation water from the IrtySh River, in particular in relation to the mechanisms of salinization and the nature of the water table regime. In terms of aquifer dynamics, the addition of the irrigation water without any groundwater abstraction has caused a sharp rise in the water table is and the development of serious soil salinity, together with an almost complete attenuation of inter-seasonal water table oscillations. The mean rise in the groundwater table from September 1997 to October 2009 was 6.9m, representing an accumulated total water storage change of close to 150million cubic meters. The analysis of aquifer water budget shows that infiltration of irrigation water occupied over 90% of the total recharge of the groundwater in the KADA. Sources of groundwater recharge and mechanisms of salinization in the KADA were also investigated using geochemical and isotopic techniques. The groundwater is characterized by Cl(SO4)-Na type, generally becoming more Na and Cl dominated with increasing salinity.