📝 Abstract
Most productive agricultural fields in the Saudi Gulf of Aqaba coastal area are lying in wadi Humeidah, where irrigation predominantly relies on groundwater. Groundwater chemistry and electrical prospecting were integrated to evaluate the status of groundwater conditions and determine its suitability for irrigation. The results indicated that Ca2+ and Na+ are the dominant cations, whereas Cl- and SO42- are the prevailing anions. Rock samples analyses showed that the weathering processes are potentially the major source of ions. EC are highly positively correlated with Cl- concentrations. Characterization of aquifer conditions up to a depth of 60 m showed that the groundwater aquifer is composed of three zones with different resistivity values. The surface layer with resistivity of 30-1000 ohm-m, representing the alluvial sand and gravel. The second layer (beneath the surface layer) exhibited resistivity values ranging from 0.6 to 70 ohm-m, indicating saline-to-brackish-to-slightly fresh water saturated rocks. The third layer (at the basement rocks) up to a depth 60 m is dominated by resistivity values of several hundred to several thousand ohm-meters. The results also showed that groundwater is not suitable for irrigation purposes under ordinary conditions.
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