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A simulation and prediction of agricultural irrigation on groundwater in well irrigation area of the piedmont of Mt. Taihang, North China
Author(s) -
Mao Xuesen,
Jia Jinsheng,
Liu Changming,
Hou Zhimin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.5667
Subject(s) - modflow , groundwater , irrigation , china , water resource management , environmental science , water table , hydrology (agriculture) , agriculture , resource (disambiguation) , irrigation statistics , water resources , population , surface irrigation , surface water , farm water , aquifer , geography , groundwater flow , water conservation , geology , environmental engineering , ecology , demography , archaeology , sociology , computer science , biology , computer network , geotechnical engineering
Declining groundwater levels caused by irrigation is the main problem for agricultural development in Northern China. Due to both economics and increased population, surface water has become almost non‐existent and groundwater is the only water resource left. Currently the groundwater is declining at a rate between 50 and 100 cm per year. Sustainable development in Northern China requires effective management of the groundwater resources. In this study, the effect of future irrigation patterns on the decline of the groundwater table is examined with the aid of MODFLOW. MODFLOW was calibrated for five observation wells in the county. The calibrated model fitted the observed data well over a 7‐year period. The simulated results showed that the groundwater decline would be decreased, and perhaps halted, by decreasing the use of irrigation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.