Groundwater recharge in typical geomorphic landscapes and different land use types on the loess plateau, China

• Published in: Hydrological processes Vol. 37; no. 4
• Main Authors: Chen, Peiyuan, Ma, Jinzhu, Ma, Xiaoyi, Yu, Qiao, Cui, Xuekai, Guo, Jiabing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Arid lands; Arid zones; Bayesian analysis; Bayesian theory; Bicarbonates; Carbonates; Cation exchange; Cation exchanging; Cations; China; Conservation; Erosion control; Geomorphology; Grasslands; Groundwater; Groundwater recharge; Groundwater resources; Gullies; hydrochemical evolution; Hydrochemicals; hydrochemistry; Infiltration; isotope; Land use; land use type; Loess; loess plateau; Magnesium; Mathematical models; MixSIAR; Mixtures; Plateaus; Probability theory; regression analysis; Silicates; Soil erosion; Stable isotopes; Statistical analysis; Surface water; Surface-groundwater relations; Water resources; Water sources; Weathering; Loess Plateau; China
• ISSN: 0885-6087; 1099-1085
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.14860

Land use significantly affects the rate and amount of groundwater recharge. To understand these patterns, stable isotope analyses (δ2H and δ18O) and hydrochemical methods were employed to study the recharge and evolution of groundwater. MixSIAR Bayesian mixture modelling and statistical regression techniques were utilized to investigate the influence of land‐use type on groundwater recharge and to calculate the contribution of various water sources to different groundwater types. These findings are important for effective management and conservation of groundwater resources. The groundwater in all studied areas displayed a magnesium bicarbonate type with notable cation exchange, and also demonstrated the dissolution of carbonate and weathering of silicate. Results from the Bayesian mixture model indicate that 69.3% of the groundwater in the Loess Plateau region was recharged by precipitation, while 86.9% of the groundwater in the loess hilly‐gully region was recharged from the surface water. Groundwater recharge was more rapid in the loess hilly‐gully region than in the Loess Plateau and was less sensitive to the land use type in the former. Dryland‐moderate coverage grassland was found to be most conducive to groundwater infiltration, whereas monotypic dryland and high‐coverage grassland inhibited infiltration to some degree. To maintain balanced soil erosion control, an increase the area of moderate‐coverage grasslands in the Loess Plateau region is recommended. 69.3% of the groundwater is recharged by precipitation in the Loess Plateau 86.9% of groundwater is recharged by surface water in the loess hilly–gully The dryland–moderate coverage grassland type has easier access to groundwater recharge. Groundwater recharge in loess plateau is sensitive to land‐use type