Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of hydrogeological properties, seawater intrusion and refreshening on the quality of groundwater used for irrigation in an agricultural coastal plain in North Sardinia, Italy

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Intensive agriculture can influence groundwater composition, aquifer biogeochemistry and soil properties; this is especially true in coastal areas where groundwater is the main source of irrigation water. Depending on the irrigation efficiency, the aquifers may suffer from pollutant contamination and salinization caused by the encroaching sea. Information about the chemical composition of the groundwater is not sufficient to permit an evaluation of either the suitability of the water for irrigation or its negative impacts on the quality of the aquifer. In this study, a method for evaluating the suitability of groundwater for irrigation, from the perspective of water quality, is proposed suggesting that groundwater use should depend on the degree of saltwater contamination. A classification of the quality of irrigation water, based on quantifying elements potentially harmful for agricultural productivity, was revised to consider the dynamic movement of the seawater interface (intrusion and freshening phases) and hydrogeological properties. The effectiveness of this method was tested in a cropland-dominated coastal alluvial aquifer (Turritana Plain, Sardinia, Italy) that is irrigated by unconfined groundwater stored in sedimentary deposits. Results show that freshening processes cover almost 53 % of the alluvial aquifer. While the groundwater may be suitable for irrigation from a quality perspective, seawater intrusion affects 47 % of the aquifer, mainly the coastal margins. This method, based on index technique, is a useful tool to help policy makers understand the important role of water resources in an area that is vulnerable to desertification and where semiarid climatic conditions are developing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angelakis AN, Marecos Do Monte MHF, Bontoux L, Asano T (1999) The status of wastewater reuse practice in the Mediterranean basin: need for guidelines. Water Res 33(10):2201–2217. doi:10.1016/S0043-1354(98)00465-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1992) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater. America Public Health Association, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelo CAJ, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ardau F, Ghiglieri G, Vernier A (1994) Salinization of coastal aquifer of the Turritana Plain: an important factor conditioning land planning and use. In: Giovanni B (ed) XIII salt water intrusion meeting (SWIM), Cagliari

  • Ashraf S, Afshari H, Ebadi A (2011) Geographical information system techniques for evaluation of groundwater quality. Am J Agr Biol Sc 6(2):261–266. doi:10.3844/ajabssp.2011.261.266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers RS (1977) Quality of water for irrigation. J Irr Drain Div ASCE 103(2):135–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Backman B, Bodiš D, Lahermo P, Rapant S, Tarvainen T (1998) Application of a groundwater contamination index in Finland and Slovakia. Environ Geol 36(1–2):55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauder JW, Brock TA (2001) Irrigation water quality, soil amendment, and crop effects on sodium leaching. Arid Land Res Manag 15(2):101–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauder TA, Waskom RM, Davis JG, Sutherland PL (2011) Irrigation water quality criteria. Colorado State University Extension, Fort Collins

    Google Scholar 

  • Beltrán JM (1999) Irrigation with saline water: benefits and environmental impact. Agr Water Manage 40(2):183–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Böhlke JK (2002) Groundwater recharge and agricultural contamination. Hydrogeol J 10(1):153–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchaou L, Michelot JL, Vengosh A, Hsissou Y, Qurtobi M, Gaye CB, Bullen TD, Zuppi GM (2008) Application of multiple isotopic and geochemical tracers for investigation of recharge, salinization and residence time of water in the Souss-Massa aquifer, southwest of Morocco. J Hydrol 352(3–4):267–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouwer H (2000) Integrated water management: emerging issues and challenges. Agr Water Manage 45(3):217–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Celico P (1986) Prospezioni Idrogeologiche. Liguori Editore

  • Celico F, Rotigliano E (2002) Saline groundwater problems in the Gaza Strip: causes and integrative management solutions. Boll Soc Geol It 121:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Chartzoulakis KS, Paranychianakis NV, Angelakis AN (2001) Water resources management in the island of Crete, Greece, with emphasis on the agricultural use. Water Policy 3(3):193–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Civita M (2005) Idrogeologia Applicata e Ambientale. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

  • Cordoni F (2007) Assessment of intrinsic vulnerability and integrated pollution of groundwater in Turritana Plain (North Sardinia). Dissertation, University of Sassari

  • Davis SN, De Wiest RJM (1966) Hydrogeology. Wiley, New York 463 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • de Montety V, Radakovitch O, Vallet-Coulomb C, Blavoux B, Hermitte D, Valles V (2008) Origin of groundwater salinity and hydrogeochemical processes in a confined coastal aquifer: case of the Rhône delta (Southern France). Appl Geochem 23:2337–2349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ashry MT, van Schilfgaarde J, Schiffman S (1985) Salinity pollution from irrigated agriculture. J Soil Water Conserv 40(1):48–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiorucci A (2007) Diagrams for evaluating groundwater quality. Water Sci Technol 7(3):111–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Garnero G, Godone D (2013) Comparisons between different interpolation techniques. In: Proceedings of the international archives of the photogrammetry, remote sensing and spatial information sciences XL-5 W, 3:27–28

  • Ghiglieri G, Carletti A, Pittalis D (2012) Analysis of salinization processes in the coastal carbonate aquifer of Porto Torres (NW Sardinia, Italy). J Hydrol 432–433:43–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibrilla A, Bam EKP, Adomako D, Ganyaglo S, Osae S, Akiti TT, Agyeman EK (2011) Application of water quality index (WQI) and multivariate analysis for groundwater quality assessment of the Birimian and Cape Coast Granitoid Complex: Densu River Basin of Ghana. Water Qual Expo Health 3(2):63–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gimenez Forcada E (2010) Dynamic of seawater interface using hydro chemical facies evolution diagram. Ground Water 48(2):212–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gimenez-Forcada E (2014) Space/time development of seawater intrusion: a study case in Vinaroz coastal plain (eastern Spain) using HFE-Diagram, and spatial distribution of hydrochemical facies. J Hydrol 517:617–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazen A (1911) Discussion of “Dams on sand formations”, by A.C. Koenig. Trans Am Soc Civ Eng 73:199–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayasingha P, Pitawala A, Dharmagunawardhane HA (2011) Vulnerability of coastal aquifers due to nutrient pollution from agriculture: Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka. Water Air Soil Poll 219(1–4):563–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JH (1975) Hydrochemistry in groundwater exploration. In: Groundwater symposium Bulawayo

  • Ketata M, Gueddari M, Bouhlila R (2012) Suitability assessment of shallow and deep groundwaters for drinking and irrigation use in the El Khairat aquifer (Enfidha, Tunisian Sahel). Environ Earth Sci 65(1):313–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Tariq R, Yuanlai C, Blackwell J (2006) Can irrigation be sustainable? Agr Water Manage 80(1):87–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kraft GJ, Stites W, Mechenich DJ (1999) Impacts of irrigated vegetable agriculture on a humid north-central US sand plain aquifer. Ground Water 37:572–580

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mongelli G, Monni S, Oggiano G, Paternoster M, Sinisi R (2013) Tracing groundwater salinization processes in coastal aquifers: a hydrogeochemical and isotopic approach in the Na–Cl brackish waters of northwestern Sardinia, Italy. Hydrol Earth Syst Sc 17(7):2917–2928

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagarajan R, Rajmohan N, Mahendran U, Senthamilkumar S (2010) Evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agricultural use in Thanjavur city, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Monit Assess 171(1–4):289–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oggiano G (1987) The Turritana coastal plain, Geological map 1:50000. In: Federici PR (ed) Genesi ed evoluzione della pianura costiera turritana (Sardegna settentrionale)—Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria. Stamperia Editoria Brigati, Genova, pp 113–115

  • Oggiano G (2006) Studi Ambientali nella Piana Turritana. Relazione Tecnica per la Provincia di Sassari, 38 pp

  • Oudet J, Münch P, Verati C, Ferrandini M, Melinte-Dobrinescu M, Gattacceca J, Cornee JJ, Oggiano G, Quillevere F, Borgomano J, Ferrandini J (2010) Integrated chronostratigraphy of an intra-arc basin: 40Ar/39Ar datings, micropalaeontology and magnetostratigraphy of the early Miocene Castelsardo basin (northern Sardinia, Italy). Palaeogeogr Palaeocl 295(1):293–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prunty L, Montgomery BR, Sweeney MD (1991) Water quality effects on soils and alfalfa: 1. Water use, yield, and nutrient concentration. Soil Sci Soc Am J 55:196–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulido-Bosch A, Tahiri A, Vallejos A (1999) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of processes in the Temara aquifer in northwestern Morocco. Water Air Soil Poll 114:323–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qadir M, Boers TM, Schubert S, Ghafoor A, Murtaza G (2003) Agricultural water management in water-starved countries: challenges and opportunities. Agr Water Manage 62(3):165–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao NS, Nirmala IS, Suryanarayana K (2005) Groundwater quality in a coastal area: a case study from Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Geol 48:543–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek C, Gunduz O (2007) IWQ Index: a GIS-integrated technique to assess irrigation water quality. Environ Monit Assess 128:277–300. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9312-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slama F, Bouhlila R, Tarhoun J (2010) Hydrochemical processes at the seawater/freshwater interface as indicators of seawater intrusion evolution: case of Korba coastal plain (Tunisia). SWIM21-21st salt water intrusion meeting, Azores

  • Somay MA, Gemici Ü (2009) Assessment of the salinization process at the coastal area with hydrogeochemical tools and geographical information systems (GIS): Selçuk plain, Izmir, Turkey. Water Air Soil Poll 201(1–4):55–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuyfzand PJ (1999) Patterns in groundwater chemistry resulting from groundwater flow. Hydrogeol J 7:15–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuyfzand PJ, Stuurman RJ (1994) Recognition and genesis of various hypersaline groundwaters in the Netherlands. In Barrocu G (ed) Proceedings of 13th SWIM, Cagliari, pp 125–136

  • Terzopoulos D (1988) The computation of visible-surface representations. IEEE T Pattern Anal 10(4):417–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd DK (1970) The water encyclopedia. Water Information Center, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Valocchi AJ, Street RL, Roberts PV (1981) Transport of ion-exchanging solutes in groundwater: chromatographic theory and field simulation. Water Resour Res 17:1517–1527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vomocil JA, Hart JM (1990) Irrigation water quality. Oregon State University, Extension Service, Corvallis

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver JMC, Cavé L, Talma AS (2007) Groundwater sampling, 2nd edn. WRC Report No. TT 303/07. Water Research Commission, Pretoria

  • Werner AD, Bakker M, Post VE, Vandenbohede A, Lu C, Ataie-Ashtiani B, Craig TS, Barry DA (2013) Seawater intrusion processes, investigation and management: recent advances and future challenges. Adv Water Resour 51:3–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157a, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Daniele Pittalis & Fulvio Celico

  2. Desertification Research Centre (NRD), University of Sassari, Viale Italia, 07100, Sassari, Italy

    Daniele Pittalis, Alberto Carletti & Giorgio Ghiglieri

  3. Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, Via Trentino 51, 09127, Cagliari, Italy

    Giorgio Ghiglieri

Authors
  1. Daniele Pittalis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alberto Carletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Giorgio Ghiglieri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fulvio Celico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniele Pittalis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pittalis, D., Carletti, A., Ghiglieri, G. et al. The influence of hydrogeological properties, seawater intrusion and refreshening on the quality of groundwater used for irrigation in an agricultural coastal plain in North Sardinia, Italy. Environ Earth Sci 75, 963 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5770-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5770-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation