The use of natural tracers as indicators of soil-water movement in a temperate semi-arid region

Allison, G.B.; Hughes, M.W.

doi:10.1016/0022-1694(83)90019-7

Cited by 337 publications

(177 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…3). Earlier studies reporting leaching of salts from the vadose zone after clearing of natural eucalyptus trees for cropping include Allison and Hughes (1983) and Jolly et al (1989), who worked in semiarid zones in southern Australia. In those studies, neither vertisols nor the role of soil cracks was mentioned; however, deep eucalyptus roots act similar to cracks to form a very saline and immobile deep-unsaturated-zone matrix, which becomes more mobile and less saline after the land- and Murray Basin (southeast Australia).…”

Section: Impact Of Cultivation On Flushing Of the Unsaturated Zone Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil–aquifer phenomena affecting groundwater under vertisols: a review

Kurtzman

Baram

Dahan

2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Vertisols are cracking clayey soils that (i) usually form in alluvial lowlands where, normally, groundwater pools into aquifers; (ii) have different types of voids (due to cracking), which make flow and transport of water, solutes and gas complex; and (iii) are regarded as fertile soils in many areas. The combination of these characteristics results in the unique soil-aquifer phenomena that are highlighted and summarized in this review. The review is divided into the following four sections: (1) soil cracks as preferential pathways for water and contaminants: in this section lysimeter-to basin-scale observations that show the significance of cracks as preferential-flow paths in vertisols, which bypass matrix blocks in the unsaturated zone, are summarized. Relatively fresh-water recharge and groundwater contamination from these fluxes and their modeling are reviewed; (2) soil cracks as deep evaporators and unsaturated-zone salinity: deep sediment samples under uncultivated vertisols in semiarid regions reveal a dry (immobile), saline matrix, partly due to enhanced evaporation through soil cracks. Observations of this phenomenon are compiled in this section and the mechanism of evapoconcentration due to air flow in the cracks is discussed; (3) impact of cultivation on flushing of the unsaturated zone and aquifer salinization: the third section examines studies reporting that land-use change of vertisols from native land to cropland promotes greater fluxes through the saline unsaturated-zone matrix, eventually flushing salts to the aquifer. Different degrees of salt flushing are assessed as well as aquifer salinization on different scales, and a comparison is made with aquifers under other soils; (4) relatively little nitrate contamination in aquifers under vertisols: in this section we turn the light on observations showing that aquifers under cultivated vertisols are somewhat resistant to groundwater contamination by nitrate (the major agriculturally related groundwater problem). Denitrification is probably the main mechanism supporting this resistance, whereas a certain degree of anion-exchange capacity may have a retarding effect as well.

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Section: Impact Of Cultivation On Flushing Of the Unsaturated Zone Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil–aquifer phenomena affecting groundwater under vertisols: a review

Kurtzman

Baram

Dahan

2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…An accurate knowledge of this component allows explaining the presence of some ions in the groundwater and also can be used to estimate the average groundwater recharge by means of the mass balance of chemical components with a rainfall origin (Allison and Hughes, 1983;Rosenthal, 1987). The chloride ion (Cl − ) is ideal to perform chemical balances because it remains inert during the recharge process (there is no significant long-term exchange with the environment) and, unlike water, it remains in the soil after evapotranspiration processes.…”

Section: Chloride Mass Balance (Cmb)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Parameterization and quantification of recharge in crystalline fractured bedrocks in Galicia-Costa (NW Spain)

Raposo

Molinero

Dafonte

2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Quantifying groundwater recharge in crystalline rocks presents great difficulties due to the high heterogeneity of the underground medium (mainly, due to heterogeneity in fracture network, which determines hydraulic parameters of the bedrock like hydraulic conductivity or effective porosity). Traditionally these rocks have been considered to have very low permeability, and their groundwater resources have usually been neglected; however, they can be of local importance when the bedrock presents a net of well-developed fractures. The current European Water Framework Directive requires an efficient management of all groundwater resources; this begins with a proper knowledge of the aquifer and accurate recharge estimation. In this study, an assessment of groundwater resources in the Spanish hydrologic district of Galicia-Costa, dominated by granitic and metasedimentary rocks, was carried out. A water-balance modeling approach was used for estimating recharge rates in nine pilot catchments representatives of both geologic materials. These results were cross-validated with an independent technique, i.e. the chloride mass balance (CMB). A relation among groundwater recharge and annual precipitation according to two different logistic curves was found for both granites and metasedimentary rocks, thus allowing the parameterization of recharge by means of only a few hydrogeological parameters. Total groundwater resources in Galicia-Costa were estimated to be 4427 hm 3 yr −1 . An analysis of spatial and temporal variability of recharge was also carried out.

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“…Previous studies have estimated drainage or percolation rates below the root zone or recharge to groundwater using the CMB method (Allison and Hughes 1983). According to the CMB method in natural systems and rain-fed agricultural systems, percolation (Pe) or recharge (R) rates are calculated as follows:…”

Section: Data Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…approach (Allison and Hughes 1983). The hydrostratigraphic records trace past changes in recharge in response to variations in forcing from land-use change and climate variability (Scanlon et al , 2007aGates et al 2008;Favreau et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept of hydrostratigraphy can be applied to these flow systems to describe the resultant stratification or layering of pore water of different ages with depth. The subsurface distribution of environmental Cl tracer from bulk precipitation (precipitation and dry fallout) can be used to date the pore water and quantify past recharge rates (Allison and Hughes 1983;Scanlon et al 2002). Chloride from bulk precipitation moves into the soil zone with infiltrating water.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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