A root zone modelling approach to estimating groundwater recharge from irrigated areas

In irrigated semi-arid and arid regions, accurate knowledge of groundwater recharge is important for the sustainable management of scarce water resources. The Campo de Cartagena area of southeast Spain is a semi-arid region where irrigation return flow accounts for a substantial portion of recharge. In this study we estimated irrigation return flow using a root zone modelling approach in which irrigation, evapotranspiration, and soil moisture dynamics for specific crops and irrigation regimes were simulated with the HYDRUS-1D software package. The model was calibrated using field data collected in an experimental plot. Good agreement was achieved between the HYDRUS-1D simulations and field measurements made under melon and lettuce crops. The simulations indicated that water use by the crops was below potential levels despite regular irrigation. The fraction of applied water (irrigation plus precipitation) going to recharge ranged from 22% for a summer melon crop to 68% for a fall lettuce crop. In total, we estimate that irrigation of annual fruits and vegetables produces 26 hm3 y1 of groundwater recharge to the top unconfined aquifer. This estimate does not include important irrigated perennial crops in the region, such as artichoke and citrus. Overall, the results suggest a greater amount of irrigation return flow in the Campo de Cartagena region than was previously estimated.

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Jiménez Martínez J. Skaggs T.H. Van Genuchten M.Th. y Candela L. A root zone modelling approach to estimating groundwater recharge from irrigated areas. Elsevier B.V., 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.01.002

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Resource type Article
Date of creation 2024-11-05
Date of last revision 2025-01-21
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Metadata identifier 43a60faa-d694-5da4-80da-694e4d32cf5f
Metadata language Spanish
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High-value dataset category Earth observation and environment
ISO 19115 topic category biota
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Name of the dataset creator Jiménez Martínez, J., Skaggs, T.H., Van Genuchten, M.Th. y Candela, L.
Name of the dataset editor Elsevier B.V.
Other identifier DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.01.002
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Email of the dataset creator joaquin.jimenez@upc.edu
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