Groundwater for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of current inland desalination of moderately saline brackish groundwater for expansion of irrigated agriculture","authors":"Mahmoud Khedher ,&nbsp;Vinod Phogat ,&nbsp;Christopher W.K. Chow ,&nbsp;Neil Palmer ,&nbsp;Julien Anese ,&nbsp;Amy Tucker ,&nbsp;Paul Petrie ,&nbsp;Ben van den Akker ,&nbsp;Raufdeen Rameezdeen","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101449","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101449","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Irrigated agriculture faces significant challenges due to global freshwater scarcity, impacting sustainability and food security. This has increased pressure on groundwater extraction in inland areas to meet the growing demand for irrigation water. This, combined with increasing risk for groundwater salinization, has made desalination of moderately saline brackish groundwater (i.e., total dissolved solids from 3000 to 10,000 mg/L) a key water source for agriculture. However, the high cost of current inland desalination systems may impact crop profitability and their sustainability for agricultural use. This review proposes approaches for developing cost-effective inland desalination systems using moderately saline brackish groundwater, highlights current challenges, and identifies research gaps. This has been achieved through studying three main areas: i) identifying crops that have lower susceptibility to risks associated with the desalinated water cost; ii) evaluating viability of current commercial desalination technologies based on water cost and crop requirements for irrigation; and iii) assessing brine management methods as this could significantly impact its feasibility. Focusing on high-value crops, particularly greenhouse vegetables, and advanced technologies to enhance water-use efficiency is crucial for agriculture using desalinated water. Brackish water RO with recovery rate ≤40 % and shallow-well brine injection, despite restrictions due to current regulations, is a potential opportunity for cost-effective inland desalination. Future research should address critical aspects such as optimal operational conditions and impacts on groundwater aquifers for effective implementation of the system. Alternatively, a High Recovery RO system (i.e., 95 % recovery rate) can make evaporation ponds a potentially cost-effective option for inland desalination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101449"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable adsorbents: Metal oxide-biochar nanocomposites from Maize Stalks and Wild Tamarind residues for dye removal and phytotoxicity assessment","authors":"Ruba Munir ,&nbsp;Amna Muneer ,&nbsp;Gadah Albasher ,&nbsp;Faheem Abbas ,&nbsp;Saima Noreen","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101447","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101447","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Environmental pollution arising from textile dye-based wastewater poses a significant concern within the industrial and scientific communities, given its profound impact on ecosystems. This study focuses on enhancing decontamination capabilities and broadening the scope of constructed wetlands. The study explores the potential of constructed wetland substrates that incorporate Wild Tamarind -mediated metal oxide-coated biochar for the removal of Reactive Golden Yellow-145 (RY-145) dye. Characterizations were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Optimization of various operational parameters were carried out. Results revealed that CuO-CBC (83.15 mg g⁻¹), MgO-CBC (79.24 mg g⁻¹), ZnO-CBC (69.20 mg g⁻¹), MnO₂-CBC (65.01 mg g⁻¹), and CBC (54.72 mg g⁻¹) demonstrated the highest adsorption capacities. The analysis included various isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic models. Maximum desorption was also achieved. The study also assessed the potential efficacy of nano-adsorbents in removing dye from real textile effluent and conducted phytotoxicity investigation on Pea seeds and Lemongrass to evaluate their environmental sustainability. Constructed wetlands exhibited higher removal efficiency compared to batch adsorption when incorporating green nano-biochar composites as substrates. Therefore, these promising green adsorbents hold significant potential for dye adsorption and serve as substrates for wetlands, contributing to the treatment of textile wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101447"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143869018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine learning prediction of allelochemical inhibition ratio (IR) on Microcystis aeruginosa growth","authors":"Zobia Khatoon ,&nbsp;Suiliang Huang ,&nbsp;Zhi Guo ,&nbsp;Adeel Ahmed Abbasi ,&nbsp;Ehtasham Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101448","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101448","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study consolidates a dataset of 83 allelochemicals derived from plant parts, microbes, marine organisms and agricultural byproducts, underscoring their ecological relevance. While allelopathic inhibition is a promising process for suppressing HABs, current research exhibits inconsistencies in elucidating its underlying mechanism. Furthermore, the field remains constrained by a lack of systematic comparisons among machine learning (ML) models. To bridge these gaps, we integrated multi-source experimental data and employed diverse ML algorithms to predict allelochemical inhibition ratio (%) against <em>Microcystis aeruginosa</em>. This methodology pinpoints critical variables for optimizing treatment efficacy and addresses key limitations of conventional experimental approaches. Through quantitative analysis, novel insights into feature importance and inhibition dynamics are established, significantly advancing predictive accuracy in HAB management. Statistical analysis of the dataset revealed an average inhibition ratio of 54 %, with values ranging from 10 % to 100 %. Among evaluated ML models, Random Forest, Bagging, and Extreme Gradient Boosting Regressors showed superior performance in predicting inhibition ratio (%). From a dataset of 83 allelochemicals classified into 15 categories, exposure concentration, exposure time, algal biomass, linoleic acid microspheres, flavonoids, and plant extracts were identified as most influential factors affecting inhibition efficiency. Notably, <em>Microcystis aeruginosa</em> inhibition was highly sensitive to shorter exposure durations (10–12 days), lower algal biomass (optimal at 1 × 10⁷ cells/mL), and concentrations exceeding 0.05 g/L. The exponential growth phase emerged as a critical window for bloom controlling. Overall, this framework offers a data-driven foundation for policy-makers and researchers to design targeted biocontrol strategies, mitigating the ecological and economic threats posed by HABs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101448"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"History and assessment of household Arsenic Biosand Filter interventions in Nepal: Over two decades of efforts and challenges","authors":"Maiko Sakamoto ,&nbsp;Gyanprakash Yadav ,&nbsp;Bandevi Yadav ,&nbsp;Makhan Maharjan","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic contamination found in groundwater poses a significant number of health risks, particularly within rural regions of developing countries. In Nepal, the introduction of the Arsenic Biosand Filter (ABF) as a household-level intervention aimed to mitigate arsenic exposure in the arsenic-affected Terai region. Despite its initial promise, questions remain regarding the filter's long-term performance, user awareness, and the sustainability of its dissemination. This study examines the historical development, implementation, and current status of ABFs in the Nawalparasi West District—a commonly known arsenic hotspot—over more than two decades. It is conducted through an integrated review of past documentation; oral histories of involved personnel; and household surveys, which includes an evaluation of filter performance. Among 1044 active ABFs tested, 17 % of raw water samples from tube wells exceeded 50 μg/L, while 4.3 % of filtered water samples still failed to meet Nepal's standard. Filter effectiveness decreased linearly as arsenic concentrations increased. While arsenic contamination in groundwater was generally limited, highly contaminated areas were concentrated in specific locations, necessitating targeted interventions that can effectively address localized risks. Findings reveal low arsenic awareness among users (80 % of which being unaware) and significant disparities in the provided filters, which were linked to both user maintenance practices and supply chain quality. Nevertheless, the study underscores the contributions of local initiatives and scale-up efforts in advancing sustainable arsenic mitigation through coordinated actions and entrepreneurship in the dissemination of ABFs. The results advocate for improved awareness programs targeted at groups with lower educational attainment, enhanced product monitoring by coordinating agencies, and affordable water quality testing mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101444"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143815035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solar and groundwater resources assessment for the installation of photovoltaic pumping systems in the state of Piauí, Brazil","authors":"Fabrício Higo Monturil de Morais ,&nbsp;Marcos Antônio Tavares Lira ,&nbsp;Wilza Gomes Reis Lopes","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101443","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101443","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The state of Piauí, especially the semi-arid rural areas, has historically suffered from water scarcity. Photovoltaic Pumping Systems (PVPS) have been adopted as an energy proposal to help populations suffering from water scarcity. The aim of this work is to carry out a feasibility study for the installation of PVPS in the state of Piauí, located in northeastern Brazil, by surveying solar and groundwater resources using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). To do this, we used solar irradiation data and data on wells installed in the state of Piauí and aquifers, collected from the online data platforms of the National Meteorological Institute and the Geological Service of Brazil. Next, 10 years of solar irradiation data (2012–2023) and data from aquifer monitoring wells were analyzed both separately and together to determine the most suitable zones for installing PVPS. Visualization of these zones was made possible by using these data to create thematic maps in QGIS software, using the Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation technique. In terms of solar radiation, the state of Piauí has an annual average of 5.54 kWh/m²/day, considered excellent for producing energy using Photovoltaic (PV) systems. The state has a large number of wells, which demonstrates the high dependence on groundwater. The results found in this study indicate that the aquifers in the state of Piauí have an average depth to groundwater of approximately 19.31 m and the average well depth is 116.5 m. The average flow rate found was approximately 5.3 m³/h, and the average specific flow rate for the state was 0.87 m³/h/m, both of which are constant around the average for practically the entire state. These values result in an average Pumping Index of 287 Wh/m³. This shows that the state has great potential for using photovoltaic solar energy to pump water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101443"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of agricultural intensification on the hydrologic components for a coastal river basin using coupled hydrological model","authors":"Landa Sankarrao,&nbsp;Maheswaran Rathinasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101440","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101440","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding the impacts of the changes in land use and cover (LULC) on the hydrological components was a prime factor for water resource management (SDG 6). Among the different LULC change patterns, agricultural intensification has recently been identified in various parts of the globe. The present study aims to understand the impacts of intensification of agricultural land use (Sankarrao et al.,2021) on the hydrological components within the Nagavali River Basin (NRB) catchment, India. In this context, the fully distributed hydrodynamic MIKESHE model was calibrated well from 2004 to 2014, with an NSE of 0.76 and 0.86 on daily and monthly time scales, respectively. Three scenarios were developed, namely baseline, past, and future scenarios, using three LULC maps of 1990, 2010, and 2030 to evaluate the impact of the intensification of agricultural land use on the hydrological components. The intensification of agricultural land use is due to the reduction in scrubland land use and forest land use (SDG 15) between 1990 to 2010 and 2010 to 2030, respectively. The annual average values of surface runoff, baseflow, and groundwater recharge were increased by 48.45 mm, 2.55 mm, and 22.45 mm, respectively, over the two comparison periods. On the other hand, a reduction of 59.55 mm was observed in the annual average AET at 59.55 mm/year. The Pearson correlation was used to identify the attribution of different LULC changes with hydrological components. The changes in agricultural land use positively correlate with changes in surface runoff, baseflow, and groundwater recharge, whereas actual evapotranspiration has a negative correlation. The spatial distribution of these hydrological component changes was identified at the sub-basin level. Overall, the results explained that the intensification of agricultural land use has increased surface runoff and groundwater recharge within the basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101440"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Heavy metal pollution and hydrochemistry analysis of groundwater in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its health implications","authors":"Manisha Ghimire ,&nbsp;Naina Byanjankar ,&nbsp;Najma Bajracharya ,&nbsp;Tejendra Regmi ,&nbsp;Tista Prasai Joshi","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study conducted in Kathmandu Valley assessed water quality analyzing 50 water samples for hydrochemical parameters and heavy metals, employing rigorous quality control, data analysis with Origin software and ArcGIS, and various indices including Water Quality Index (WQI), Heavy Metals Pollution Index (HPI), Heavy Metal Evaluation Index (HEI), and Environmental Water Quality Index (EWQI), with human health risks from heavy metal exposure through Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotients (HQ). Piper diagram signifies, most of the selective falls under Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-HCO₃ˉ composition indicates the temporary hardness. The heavy metal parameters follow the sequences of Fe &gt; Mn &gt; Zn &gt; As &gt; Cr &gt; Ni &gt; Pb &gt; Cu &gt; Cd with the mean value below the National Drinking Water Quality Standards except for Fe and Mn, and substantially heterogeneous spatial distribution patterns with 60 % samples as high metal class. The WQI categorizes high levels of Mn, NH₄⁺, Fe, and Pb, while assigning lower weights to Cu and Cd based on standard values and relative weights. The WQI value shows a high significant positive correlation with other indices, while the HPI values exceeding 100 in all samples indicate that the water is unsafe for drinking. Furthermore, the study depicts non-carcinogenic health risks from heavy metal exposure beyond acceptable levels across all sites, emphasizing the need for stronger regulation and enforcement with the development of remedial strategies and rigorous health risk assessment to improve the quality and public health concerns in the studied valley and in similar regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101442"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater dynamics and hydrogeological processes in the Alter do Chão Aquifer: A case study in Manaus, Amazonas – Brazil","authors":"Alderlene Pimentel de Brito ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Lilla Manzione ,&nbsp;Ingo Daniel Wahnfried","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fluctuations in groundwater levels can occur for several reasons related to hydrological, geological, climatic, or even anthropogenic influences due to aquifer exploitation and land use change. In Manaus, the capital of the State of Amazonas, in Brazil, the Alter do Chão Aquifer (ACA) is the main source for private water supply. The recent extreme droughts that affected the Amazon region confirmed the relevance and importance of the ACA water reserves, which must be better understood and studied to promote effective, balanced, and informed groundwater resources management. Even with a monitoring network spread over the city collecting continuous data, information about groundwater levels is not effectively used for water management purposes. Understanding the levels variations, the dynamics of groundwater and the factors that influence groundwater behaviour becomes fundamental in times of water crisis, scarcity, and intensification of extreme climatic events. The objective of this work was to understand the behaviour of groundwater levels in the ACA to determine the main factors influencing groundwater reserve fluctuations under different stresses. Four wells monitored between 2010 and 2023 were analysed using physical-based time series models. The models incorporated time series of precipitation, evapotranspiration, river stage and linear trends from climatological events that occurred in certain periods as multiple inputs and possible stresses in the ACA reserves. The results demonstrate that the ACA presents fast responses to climatological inputs. Even located in the same hydrogeological context, the wells reveal different responses to precipitation and evapotranspiration, the major factors of influence. Also, significant trends were found during El Niño (2014–2016) and La Niña (2020–2023) events. This information can be used for planning water use, understanding the mechanisms of recharge and discharge of groundwater, for drilling new wells and exploring new areas with potential for economic and social growth, in line with environmental preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101441"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143704232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Delimitation of potential zones for groundwater recharge and discharge in the Guayalejo–Tamesi River Basin, southern Tamaulipas, Mexico","authors":"Oscar Guevara-Mansilla ,&nbsp;Tomás A. Peña-Alonso ,&nbsp;René Ventura-Houle ,&nbsp;Salvador Ibarra-Martínez ,&nbsp;Blanca Lizeth Cristobal-Francisco","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Guayalejo–Tamesi River Basin (GTB) has suffered from water scarcity mainly due to aquifer overexploitation, limited understanding of the surface water – groundwater relationship, and poor water resource management. Given this, appropriate land use can be a decisive factor in sustainable water management. In this context, the present study focuses on delineating potential groundwater recharge zones (PGRZ) and discharge zones (PGDZ) to achieve an overview of groundwater flow systems and thus preserve areas of hydrogeological importance. This analysis was conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS), integrating satellite data, geophysical information, and terrain surface characteristics. Based on these databases, ten hydrogeological variables were obtained and assessed using an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on Groundwater Flow System Theory (GFST) criteria. This resulted in two mathematical models estimating that 37.71 % and 11.78 % of the GTB exhibit PGRZ and PGDZ conditions, respectively. The models were validated by comparing the delineation of PGRZ and PGDZ with the locations of 222 springs and the chemistry of 30 groundwater samples, showing an accuracy of 75 % for the PGRZ calculation and 70 % for the PGDZ model. The model proved sufficiently accurate for identifying small PGRZ and PGDZ, thus providing a regional understanding of hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater flow dynamics at a local resolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101439"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143643127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A nature-based solution to enhance aquifer recharge: Combining trees and infiltration basins","authors":"Jose David Henao Casas ,&nbsp;Enrique Fernández Escalante ,&nbsp;Juan Carlos Richard-Cerda ,&nbsp;Francisco Ayuga","doi":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101436","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101436","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is the replenishment of aquifers for environmental recovery or later use of the stored water. Under increasing occurrence of hydrological extremes, it shows great potential to buffer water availability. Nonetheless, these systems are affected by clogging, which decreases the infiltration rates over time. To deal with this issue and evaluate the potential to enhance recharge, we studied the effect of poplars (Populus Nigra predominantly) on two infiltration basins in a MAR system in central Spain, namely Santiuste (ST) and La Laguna del Señor (LS). The hypothesis is that plant roots can increase infiltration rates and counteract the effect of clogging through macropore formation and changes in soil characteristics. To this end, we conducted eight on-site infiltration test campaigns over two years in areas with and without trees, in addition to determining bulk density, organic carbon content and soil textures. We also built a 1-D vadose zone model and compared measured steady-state infiltration rates (SSIR) with theoretical values. When compared to bare soil, areas with trees show higher SSIR (37 % difference on average), higher organic carbon content (113 % difference on average), and lower bulk density (38 % difference on average). In all cases, measured SSIR values were larger than theoretical values, meaning that textures alone cannot explain local infiltration rates. Moreover, the difference between theoretical and measured SSIR is larger in trees than in bare soil by 40 % in ST and 198 % in LS. The 1-D vadose zone model shows that in the area studied, the transpiration by trees is largely offset by the additional recharge due to enhanced soil infiltration rates. These results suggest that trees increase infiltration rates, likely due to macropores and aggregate formation and the rearrangement of the soil structure. This nature-based solution could be extended to other MAR water-spreading methods and in-channel modifications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37879,"journal":{"name":"Groundwater for Sustainable Development","volume":"29 ","pages":"Article 101436"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}