Integrated geophysical and hydrochemical assessment of groundwater aquifers for agricultural development: a case study in the Area South Alamein-Wadi El Natrun Road, Egypt
Groundwater exploration and quality assessment are vital for cultural and agricultural development. In this paper, we provide integrated geophysical techniques, including geoelectric and magnetotelluric methods, along with hydrochemical analysis, which are employed to identify zones of low-salinity...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | All Earth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27669645.2025.2463735 |
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| Summary: | Groundwater exploration and quality assessment are vital for cultural and agricultural development. In this paper, we provide integrated geophysical techniques, including geoelectric and magnetotelluric methods, along with hydrochemical analysis, which are employed to identify zones of low-salinity groundwater suitable for irrigation along the South Alamein-Wadi El Natrun Road in Egypt. The investigated area is located west of the Nile Delta, where most surrounding areas contain groundwater of different qualities. The study aims to delineate the low-salinity ones important to most crops. The interpretation of resistivity data reveals that the study area includes an aquifer with varying water salinity at depths between 68 and 78 metres. Water quality changes according to clay intercalation within the aquifer. Six Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) and six Audio Magnetotelluric (AMT) stations were conducted to further characterise the region’s deep aquifer. The MT data indicate that a high-resistivity zone corresponds to high-quality water at depths between 120 and 200 metres. The combined analysis identifies a low-salinity groundwater zone at depths of 68 to 78 metres, with total dissolved solids (TDS) ranging from 1,728 to 3,840 ppm, which is suitable for irrigation. This aquifer’s distinctiveness lies in its brackish water, which can support various types of cultivation. |
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| ISSN: | 2766-9645 |