JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

To continue or develop the exploitation of underground water for different different uses and purposes, as well as building any water structure, set of quantitative features of aquifers can be detected. To achieve this goal, quantitative monitoring of groundwater level is only possible. Accordingly, this study compared the impact of both the concept of marginal entropy and ordinary kriging for groundwater level monitoring network design in the case Gotvand-Aghili Plain, Khuzestan province. It is important to note that a key aspect in groundwater level monitoring of the quantity measured was the variability or uncertainty in it. This created a considerable confidence to monitor and ultimately achieve favorable conditions in the future. In this study, the variability of the groundwater level was considered to evaluate the combined effects of marginal entropy and ordinary kriging. In order to determine the suitable areas for further monitoring or thinning as well as the compatibility of these two methods, the monitor network design was designed. The map classified according to the marginal entropy method, in a range between 0.07 to 5.26 of the marginal entropy change, areas with the higher rates of 2.13 in terms of density; this indicated the need for more observation wells. Ordinary Kriging method also changed the range of values; they also represented areas that needed monitoring more than 13.16. Comparison of the results obtained by the two methods showed that the marginal entropy of the kriging method with less uncertainty and by using it, there was less the need to be monitored and classified. Comparison of the two methods by the zoning map showed that fewer errors were taken to the marginal entropy method and it could be recommended for the groundwater level monitoring network design. The network was also based on the Cross validation estimation error evaluated. These tests and additional analysis were employed in this study to determine the suitable areas for the higher density of wells and the need for thinning areas. The results further confirmed the proper performance of the methods employed, as well as the superiority of the marginal entropy in the design of a small groundwater monitoring network.

Growing concerns about water pollution and its potentially harmful effects on human being have stimulated serious efforts to develop reliable biological monitoring techniques. The bioluminescent analysis is one of the most promising approaches for the biomonitoring of the environment, due to the sensitivity of the luminescent system to even micro quantities of the pollutants. The aim of the current study was to assess the petroleum compounds toxicity using Vibrio fischeri bacterium. The growth pattern of the bacterium was determined in photobacterium broth using the optical density measurement at 600 nm, which showed the optimum growth time of 16-18 hours after inoculation. In this research, the effects of environmental parameters such as temperature, pH and various concentrations of oil on the growth and luminescence of Vibrio fischeri were examined. The results revealed that the optimum growth conditions of the bacterium after 16 hours included the temperature of 25 °C and pH 7. Besides, the growth and luminescence intensity of Vibrio fischeri were a function of total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the medium, which were significantly reduced in oil concentrations by more than 4% w/v. Therefore, the Vibrio fischeri could, therefore, have the potential for monitoring of petroleum pollutants in the aqueous media.

Several indices are used for drought identification and quantification. In this paper, the new Standardized Palmer Drought index (SPDI) was introduced and then the drought condition of Chaharmahal-Va-Bakhtiari Province was studied using this index. For this study, 11 synoptic, climatology, and evaporation meteorology stations were selected. Essential information in this investigation includes monthly temperature, monthly precipitation, and soil moisture measurement. To estimate SPDI, moisture departure, was first calculated on a monthly time scale. Then, converted to cumulative moisture departure values in different time scales including 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months. The best statistical distribution (GEV) was then fitted to cumulative departure. These values were then standardized to have the SPDI. The results showed that, as soil moisture affects SPDI estimation, it will be more valid for analyzing and monitoring drought conditions, especially for agricultural drought. Also, the results showed that 2000, 2001, and 2008 years were the driest time in this Province from 1988 to 2012. Moreover, drought frequency was found out in the western half of the Province more than in the other parts.

To monitor and compare the changes of salts in the soil profile around the roots of the corn plant, the plant yield, and the productivity of corn water, an Experimental was conducted in a completely randomized block of three repetitions in two crop years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 at Ahvaz Agricultural Research Station. Experimental treatments included two subsurface drip irrigation systems with a working depth of 30 cm from the soil surface and tape irrigation and two irrigation intervals of 2 and 4 days. The results of monitoring soil solutes obtained from sampling depths (0-25, 25-50, and 75-50 cm) showed that soil salinity in the second year in both systems as a result of improving the quality of irrigation water from 3.61 dS/m to 2.01 dS/m, it was reduced by two times. The results of soil salinity monitoring showed the highest ratio of salinity reduction with a 2-day irrigation interval in both irrigation systems. The most leaching was done at the irrigation depth of 25-50 cm in the subsurface drip irrigation system and at the depth of 0-25 cm in the tape system. The highest yield of corn dry fodder was 9.13 and 7.13 tons per hectare, respectively, and the best water efficiency based on dry corn fodder at the rate of 13.74 kg/m was obtained in the strip drip irrigation system (tape) with a two-day irrigation interval and in the second crop year. Also, the results of the soil salinity measurement showed that the implementation and exploitation of the drip irrigation system can be the basis for improving the quality of the soil as the most important non-renewable resource of agriculture.