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Assessing soil salinity hazard in cultivated areas using MODFLOW model and GIS tools: A case study from the Jezre’el Valley, Israel

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  • Mirlas, V.

Abstract

A high water table and soil salinization processes are common in irrigated fields in the Jezre’el Valley of Israel. This valley, located in the Lower Galilee in the northern part of the country, covers nearly 300km2. In general, salinization is accelerated when a field is underlain by a shallow, semi-confined aquifer exerting upward hydraulic pressure, which impedes drainage of the overlying soil layers. Owing to its hydrological setting, the Jezre’el Valley has inherent drainage problems, which were aggravated in the 1960s by the introduction of intensive irrigated farming. The water table rose, leading to soil salinization problems. By 1989, 1500ha showed soil salinity problems and by 1991, an area of 3300ha was affected by salinity. In this study, the MODFLOW groundwater flow model was used to simulate groundwater levels in the Jezre’el Valley. Geo-database and ArcGIS techniques were used for model input of the required dates, spatial analysis of the model results, and assessment of areas under soil salinity hazard, based on two hydrogeological criteria: (1) groundwater table depth from the soil surface and (2) difference between groundwater levels in the upper soil layer and semi-confined aquifer. It was found that the total area with intensive soil salinization is 325ha, and that with potential soil salinization 6275ha. With the appropriate input, a spatially distributed groundwater flow model such as MODFLOW can provide reliable information for the planning of an effective subsurface drainage system to prevent soil salinization.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirlas, V., 2012. "Assessing soil salinity hazard in cultivated areas using MODFLOW model and GIS tools: A case study from the Jezre’el Valley, Israel," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 144-154.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:109:y:2012:i:c:p:144-154
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2012.03.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benyamini, Y. & Mirlas, V. & Marish, S. & Gottesman, M. & Fizik, E. & Agassi, M., 2005. "A survey of soil salinity and groundwater level control systems in irrigated fields in the Jezre'el Valley, Israel," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 181-194, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiang, Donglin & Ao, Chang & Bailey, Ryan T. & Zeng, Wenzhi & Huang, Jiesheng, 2022. "Simulation of water and salt transport in the Kaidu River Irrigation District using the modified SWAT-Salt," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    2. Peragón, Juan Manuel & Delgado, Antonio & Pérez-Latorre, Francisco J., 2015. "A GIS-based quality assessment model for olive tree irrigation water in southern Spain," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 232-240.
    3. Yang, Yang & Zhu, Yan & Wu, Jingwei & Mao, Wei & Ye, Ming & Yang, Jinzhong, 2022. "Development and application of a new package for MODFLOW-LGR-MT3D for simulating regional groundwater and salt dynamics with subsurface drainage systems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    4. Manuel Peragón, Juan & Delgado, Antonio & Antonio Rodríguez Díaz, Juan & Pérez-Latorre, Francisco J., 2016. "A GIS-based decision tool for reducing salinization risks in olive orchards," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 166(C), pages 33-41.
    5. Renji Remesan & Arjun Prabhakaran & Macariush N. Sangma & Sreekanth Janardhanan & Mohammed Mainuddin & Sukanta K. Sarangi & Uttam Kumar Mandal & Dhiman Burman & Sukamal Sarkar & Kshirenda Kumar Mahant, 2021. "Modeling and Management Option Analysis for Saline Groundwater Drainage in a Deltaic Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Degen Lin & Chuanqi Hu & Fang Lian & Jing’ai Wang & Xingli Gu & Yingxian Yu, 2023. "Risk Assessment of World Corn Salinization Hazard Factors Based on EPIC Model and Information Diffusion," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, November.

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