Simulation of water and salts dynamics in Bouhajla (Central Tunisia): exceptional rainfall effect

Sabri Kanzari, Mohamed Hachicha, Rachida Bouhlila and Jorge Battle-Sales
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Sabri Kanzari: Laboratory of Environmental Risk Management in Irrigated Agriculture, National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Waters and Forests of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Mohamed Hachicha: Laboratory of Environmental Risk Management in Irrigated Agriculture, National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Waters and Forests of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Rachida Bouhlila: Laboratory of Hydraulic and Environment of Modelling, National Engineering School of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
Jorge Battle-Sales: Department of Plant Biology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Soil and Water Research, 2012, vol. 7, issue 1, 36-44

Abstract: Arid and semi-arid regions face the risk of soils and aquifers salinization. Rainy events are rare which is characteristic of these regions. They play a significant role in the leaching of salts from topsoil to deeper layers, which increases the risk of aquifers salinization. For this reason, a plot was selected in the semi-arid region of Bou Hajla (Central Tunisia). The simulation of water and salts dynamics was carried out by Hydrus-1D. Model calibration was realised on a flood irrigation experiment during 10 days and in a depth of 4 m. The hydrodynamic parameters were determined by inverse modelling. Model validation was performed successfully during 577 days. The simulation of water and salts dynamics has allowed the analysis of two scenarios: (i) the effect of a very rainy event (> 50mm/day) on the dynamics of salts. This type of event allows leaching of the accumulated salts in the topsoil which promotes their burial in the depth; (ii) the long-term evolution of the saline profile in 20 years showed the cyclical nature of salts leaching in the topsoil, the permanent accumulation of salts in the depth of around 2 m, and a continuous leaching in the deeper layers (around 4 m), which may increase groundwater contamination risk.

Keywords: aquifer; Central Tunisia; Hydrus-1D; rainfall; salinization; soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:7:y:2012:i:1:id:17-2011-swr

DOI: 10.17221/17/2011-SWR

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