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Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin

The geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves using electrical resistivity methods was conducted in Linthipe 4B sub basin in Central region of Malawi. With the increasing over-utilization of shallow wells in dambos for smallholder irrigation, this study was carried out to investigate w...

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Autores principales: Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard, Sibale, Davis, Marne, Ramadan, Chisale, Sylvester William, Chisanu, Lackson
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Elsevier 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8608859/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34849417
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08346
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author Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard
Sibale, Davis
Marne, Ramadan
Chisale, Sylvester William
Chisanu, Lackson
author_facet Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard
Sibale, Davis
Marne, Ramadan
Chisale, Sylvester William
Chisanu, Lackson
author_sort Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard
collection PubMed
description The geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves using electrical resistivity methods was conducted in Linthipe 4B sub basin in Central region of Malawi. With the increasing over-utilization of shallow wells in dambos for smallholder irrigation, this study was carried out to investigate whether dambo groundwater reserves could serve as sustainable irrigation water sources and to examine the aquifer characteristics in Linthipe sub basin. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) points were established in the basin using the Schlumberger configuration array. Data was analysed using IPI2win and Surfer software applications. Contrary to other commercial software applications which are costly for government departments when analysing geophysical data, partial curve matching and one dimensional (1-D) computer iteration techniques were used to interpret the VES curves and the pseudo-cross section resistivity profiles due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The study has revealed that the aquifer properties in the basin are exceptionally variable in terms of state of weathering, depth, thickness, lithology, aquifer recharge configuration, geologic material and hydraulic gradients. These variations showed that the shallow wells in the basin have significant fractures suggesting high water potential for climate smart irrigation usage in the study area. The potential groundwater zones for climate smart irrigated farming were detected at VES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 noted by low aquifer resistivity with high values of aquifer thickness. However, VES points, 7, 8 and 9 were likely to be zones of low water bearing potential because they had high values of aquifer resistivity with low aquifer thickness. The findings also validated the effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of using vertical electrical resistivity technique in exploring groundwater for irrigation. The results from this study have highlighted that feasible shallow well depth for a sustainable irrigation system is a function of geologic resistance and aquifer thickness when the geologic material has low resistance and broader thickness. This study noted that knowledge of aquifer recharge rates in dambos is required in order to effectively control abstraction rates for sustainable irrigation in basins. There is a need to promote the usage of geophysical studies, reforestation, river basin management trainings and aquifer recharge technologies in exploring sites for shallow well development for irrigation. The study further recommends the usage of geographical information systems (GIS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving the results of groundwater monitoring studies in Malawi.
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spelling pubmed-86088592021-11-29 Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard Sibale, Davis Marne, Ramadan Chisale, Sylvester William Chisanu, Lackson Heliyon Research Article The geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves using electrical resistivity methods was conducted in Linthipe 4B sub basin in Central region of Malawi. With the increasing over-utilization of shallow wells in dambos for smallholder irrigation, this study was carried out to investigate whether dambo groundwater reserves could serve as sustainable irrigation water sources and to examine the aquifer characteristics in Linthipe sub basin. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) points were established in the basin using the Schlumberger configuration array. Data was analysed using IPI2win and Surfer software applications. Contrary to other commercial software applications which are costly for government departments when analysing geophysical data, partial curve matching and one dimensional (1-D) computer iteration techniques were used to interpret the VES curves and the pseudo-cross section resistivity profiles due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. The study has revealed that the aquifer properties in the basin are exceptionally variable in terms of state of weathering, depth, thickness, lithology, aquifer recharge configuration, geologic material and hydraulic gradients. These variations showed that the shallow wells in the basin have significant fractures suggesting high water potential for climate smart irrigation usage in the study area. The potential groundwater zones for climate smart irrigated farming were detected at VES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 noted by low aquifer resistivity with high values of aquifer thickness. However, VES points, 7, 8 and 9 were likely to be zones of low water bearing potential because they had high values of aquifer resistivity with low aquifer thickness. The findings also validated the effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of using vertical electrical resistivity technique in exploring groundwater for irrigation. The results from this study have highlighted that feasible shallow well depth for a sustainable irrigation system is a function of geologic resistance and aquifer thickness when the geologic material has low resistance and broader thickness. This study noted that knowledge of aquifer recharge rates in dambos is required in order to effectively control abstraction rates for sustainable irrigation in basins. There is a need to promote the usage of geophysical studies, reforestation, river basin management trainings and aquifer recharge technologies in exploring sites for shallow well development for irrigation. The study further recommends the usage of geographical information systems (GIS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving the results of groundwater monitoring studies in Malawi. Elsevier 2021-11-09 /pmc/articles/PMC8608859/ /pubmed/34849417 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08346 Text en © 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
spellingShingle Research Article
Chikabvumbwa, Sylvester Richard
Sibale, Davis
Marne, Ramadan
Chisale, Sylvester William
Chisanu, Lackson
Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title_full Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title_fullStr Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title_full_unstemmed Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title_short Geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of Linthipe sub-basin
title_sort geophysical investigation of dambo groundwater reserves as sustainable irrigation water sources: case of linthipe sub-basin
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8608859/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34849417
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08346
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