Investigation of heuweltjie structure and soil chemistry in the Buffels River valley and implications for transfer of salts to groundwater
Date
2019-12
Authors
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally, soil salinization is a major soil degradation problem. Saline soils damage the land by altering various Earth cycles and are especially a threat to farming. Saline soils can cause salts to leach into the groundwater, causing an increase in groundwater salinity. The Buffels River catchment, situated in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, is affected by saline groundwater. Various locations along the coastal zone of southern Africa show similar mean annual precipitation profiles as the Buffels River catchment, yet do not suffer from the same salinization levels. Saline waters within this area are also not evenly distributed, suggesting that other factors may play a role in the groundwater salinization. Heuweltjies, circular earth mounds that can be up to 2 m in height and 32 m in width, are abundant in the Buffels River catchment, and have salinity levels an order of a magnitude higher than the surrounding soils, suggesting that heuweltjie salts may be contributing to this groundwater salinization. Detailed analyses were done on two heuweltjies, through excavation, to examine the salt profile of the heuweltjies, as well as other chemical and physical analyses of the sediments. This was done to see if heuweltjies could be contributing to groundwater salinity in this area. In order to gather this information, a range of analytical techniques were employed with the aim of determining whether the heuweltjies are leaching salts into the groundwater system. Amongst the analytical techniques available for this type of profiling, electrical conductivity, pH, mineralogy, particle size analysis, anion and cation profiling, and dissolved silica were analysed. Results showed that heuweltjies have different soil compositions compared to the interheuweltjie sediments. More clay was present on heuweltjie than off heuweltjie. Heuweltjies had elevated salt concentrations compared to the interheuweltjie sediments, and minerals such as gypsum, calcite, and calcium oxalate were only present in the heuweltjie soils. The source of salt is possibly from marine origin. This could be caused by evaporative concentration, transfer of marine blown salts, or termites bringing saline plant materials into the heuweltjies. Calcite was found in the top soils, and gypsum deeper down, indicating that the water is moving downwards. This was concluded since gypsum is a more soluble salt than calcite and moves further down the profile. Preferential flow pathways were observed through granular soils in one heuweltjie, and termite nests and tunnels within the second heuweltjie, aiding in the transfer of salts to the groundwater.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
Salinity -- South Africa -- Buffels River, Soil salinization -- Analysis, Soils, Salts in -- South Africa -- Buffels River, Soil mineralogy, Soils --Analysis, Soil chemistry -- South Africa -- Buffels River, Groundwater -- Quality, UCTD