Impact of agricultural activity and lithology on groundwater quality in the Merdja area, Tebessa, Algeria

This work presents results of the hydrogeological and hydrochemical studies on groundwater samples from the alluvial aquifer of Merdja in T,bessa, located in the Western part of this town. Its groundwater resources are used mainly for crop irrigation in an agriculture dominated area. Hydrochemical and water quality data obtained through a sampling period (December 2008) and analysis program indicate that nitrate pollution can be a serious problem affecting groundwater due to the use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agriculture. The concentration of nitrate in groundwater ranged from 19 to 281 mg/l. Considerable seasonal fluctuations in groundwater quality were observed as a consequence of agricultural practices and other factors such as annual rainfall distribution and the wadi El Kebir flow regime. The chemical composition of the water is not only influenced by agricultural practices, but also by interaction with the alluvial sediments. The dissolution of evaporites accounts for part of the Na+, K+, Cl-, SO (4) (2-) , Mg2+, and Ca2+, but other processes, such as calcite precipitation and dedolomitization, also contribute to groundwater chemistry.