Influence of Groundwater Depth on Soil Ion Distribution in the Agricultural Irrigation Areas of Northwest China

Borui Peng, Rui Dong, Yujiang He (), Ying Liu and Yubin Zhao
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Borui Peng: The Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Rui Dong: College of Geosciences and Engineering, North China University of Water Resource and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, China
Yujiang He: The Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Ying Liu: The Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Shijiazhuang 050061, China
Yubin Zhao: PowerChina Beijing Engineering Corporation, Beijing 100024, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-21

Abstract: Extensive and unregulated groundwater extraction for irrigation in the arid inland basins of Northwest China has led to a continuous increase in groundwater depth in agricultural irrigation areas. This has significantly altered the distribution of soil ions, making it difficult to predict their evolution and dynamic patterns. In this study, we used a space-for-time substitution approach to elucidate the evolution of the soil ion distribution under changing groundwater depths. Experiments were conducted in three typical irrigation areas with varying groundwater depths, that is, below 5 m, 5–10 m, and above 10 m in Korla, Xinjiang, China. Soil samples were collected from five profiles at depths of 0–180 cm to measure the soil moisture, salinity, and major ion content. An innovative research framework was developed to examine the relationship between groundwater depth and soil ion distribution using ion ratios, principal components, hierarchical clustering, and correlation analyses. This framework aims to reveal the dynamics, correlations, and mechanisms of soil moisture, salinity, ion distribution, and representative ion composition as groundwater depth increases in the arid agricultural irrigation areas of Northwest China. The results showed that as groundwater depth increased, the soil chemical type shifted from Ca-SO 4 to Na-SO 4 and mixed types, with an increase in SO 4 2− and Na + content in the soil profile. Soil moisture, salinity, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were significantly higher in shallow groundwater than in deep groundwater. Groundwater depth was negatively correlated with soil moisture, salinity, and major cations and anions (K + , Na + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cl − , SO 4 2− , and NO 3 − ). Meanwhile, a positive correlation exists between groundwater depth and CO 3 2− . The dynamic distribution of soil ions is primarily governed by groundwater depth and is influenced by multiple factors. Evaporation is the dominant factor in shallow groundwater areas, whereas the mineral composition of rocks plays a crucial role in deep groundwater areas. These findings provide scientific support for strategic agricultural water-resource management policies and sustainable development strategies in arid regions.

Keywords: soil salinity; groundwater depth; soil structure; soil ion distribution; arid agricultural irrigation area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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