Determination of certain soil properties and the impact on groundwater by drainage channels: Evaluation through geographic information systems

Soils are crucial materials for sustainable agriculture. Despite the current practices of agricultural production outside of soil, soil and water remain indispensable elements. However, humans, considered one of the factors contributing to soil formation, have both positive and negative impacts on the soil. These impacts are particularly influential on dynamic soil properties such as drainage, salinity, and pH. Irrigation of agricultural lands for the purpose of crop production can sometimes create issues due to the rising groundwater in the root zone. In order to mitigate the adverse effects of groundwater in areas with drainage problems, drainage channels are opened. Additionally, the drainage channels contribute to the reduction of soil salinity with appropriate irrigation methods. In this study, the impact of drainage channels established by the government on agricultural lands in the southern part of Adana province was evaluated. Changes in groundwater levels, pH, and salinity in the soil before and after the opening of drainage channels were considered. For this purpose, point data from soil analyses for different years were utilized, and these data were processed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to reveal temporal changes. The study observed a decrease in groundwater levels in certain regions where groundwater problems existed before the opening of drainage channels. Furthermore, the positive impact of drainage channels on soil leaching resulted in significant reductions in soil salinity. All data were visualized through mapping conducted in the GIS.