An Integrated Aquifer Management Approach for Aridification-Affected Agricultural Area, Shengeldy-Kazakhstan

Abstract

Ongoing water-resource depletion is a common trend in southeastern Kazakhstan and in most of Central Asia, making the use of drainage water for freshwater preservation and groundwater recharge a key strategy for sustainable agriculture. Since the Ily River inflow began to decrease, groundwater levels in the Shengeldy study area site have fallen below the drainage pipes. As such, our main research hypothesis was that owing to drainage infiltration, the regional shallow aquifer can be used as an effective additional water source for moistening crop root systems during the irrigation period. The MODFLOW groundwater flow model was used to simulate and quantitatively assess the combined hydrogeological and irrigation conditions of artificial groundwater recharge both from the subsurface drainage and as an additional source for irrigation. The field study showed that the additional groundwater table elevation will reach approximately 1.5 m under the field drainage system and that the additional groundwater recharge influence zone will develop up to 300–350 m from the drains. The MODFLOW simulation together with full-scale experimental studies suggests that under certain conditions drainage water can be applied both as an additional source of irrigation and for aquifer sustainable maintenance.

MODFLOW and HYDRUS Modeling of Groundwater Supply Prospect Assessment for Distant Pastures in the Aksu River Middle Reaches

“…However, the increase in spatial discretization is associated not only with high computational costs but is also largely limited by the insufficient detail of the initial information. Certain limitations on the accuracy of predictive model calculations are also imposed by the specified boundary conditions associated with the lack of information on their changes in the prediction period [36]. In this regard, the flow rate of groundwater entering the model through the eastern border, the relationship of groundwater with the Aksu and Akozek river runoff and rainwater infiltration for the prediction period were set unchanged and obtained as a result of model calibration.…”

Field Experimental Study on the Infiltration and Clogging Processes at Aksu Research Site, Kazakhstan

“…To improve pasture infrastructure in the Aksu district by artificial recharge in artificial infiltration basins, a study of the upper aquifers indicated that groundwater levels are nearly 7 m or less. By resizing the water level to the soil capillary fringe, spontaneous irrigation may occur [16]. The relevant aquifers around the Aksu experimental site are shown in Figure 3 -Aquifer of alluvial undivided recent and Upper Quaternary deposits (al QIII-IV), represented by sands, sandy loams, sandy gravel-pebble deposits with interlayers of loams, clays, and siltstones, and aquifer thickness that varies from 15 to 35 m. The Aksu River in the study area [13].…”

“…To improve pasture infrastructure in the Aksu district by artificial recharge in artificial infiltration basins, a study of the upper aquifers indicated that groundwater levels are nearly 7 m or less. By resizing the water level to the soil capillary fringe, spontaneous irrigation may occur [16]. The relevant aquifers around the Aksu experimental site are shown in Figure 3 All the above-described aquifers are hydraulically connected and represent, overall, a single unconfined groundwater complex.…”