article · Atmosphere
Climate change and population growth have intensified the demand for groundwater in agricultural systems, particularly where surface water is becoming insufficient. Research in Lower Dir District, Pakistan, used remote sensing and geographic information system techniques alongside a multi-influencing factor method to map groundwater potential for irrigation. The assessment evaluated seven environmental factors, including land cover, geology, soil, rainfall, fault density, drainage density, and slope. The district was categorised into four zones, identifying 113.10 square kilometres of very high potential, 659.38 square kilometres of high potential, 674.68 square kilometres of good potential, and 124.17 square kilometres of poor potential. Field surveys confirmed these findings, showing that areas such as Kotkay and Lalqila possess shallow water tables, whereas locations like Zimdara, Khal, and Talash have deep water tables and lower potential.
Rising temperatures and expanding populations place severe stress on surface water supplies for farming. By integrating satellite data and geographic information systems, regional authorities and agricultural planners can locate reliable underground water sources. This allows communities to identify suitable drilling sites for irrigation, improving food security and climate resilience in water-stressed agricultural regions.
The multi-influencing factor methodology offers an applied analytical approach for agricultural planners, water resource managers, and geospatial service providers seeking to map irrigation potential. Because the abstract demonstrates validation through field water table surveys in a specific district, the approach sits at an applied, tested stage, ready for adaptation into broader regional planning tools or commercial geospatial consultancy services for agricultural site selection.
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The changing climate and global warming have rendered existing surface water insufficient, which is projected to adversely influence the irrigated farming systems globally. Consequently, groundwater demand has increased significantly owing to increasing population and demand for plant-based foods especially in South Asia and Pakistan. This study aimed to determine the potential areas for groundwater use for agriculture sector development in the study area Lower Dir District. ArcGIS 10.4 was utilized for geospatial analysis, which is referred to as Multi Influencing Factor (MIF) methodology. Seven parameters including land cover, geology, soil, rainfall, underground faults (liniment) density, drainage density, and slope, were utilized for delineation purpose. Considering relative significance and influence of each parameter in the groundwater recharge rating and weightage was given and potential groundwater areas were classified into very high, high, good, and poor. The result of classification disclosed that the areas of 113.10, 659.38, 674.68, and 124.17 km2 had very high, high, good, and poor potential for groundwater agricultural uses, respectively. Field surveys for water table indicated groundwater potentiality, which was high for Kotkay and Lalqila union councils having shallow water table. However, groundwater potentiality was poor in Zimdara, Khal, and Talash, characterized with a very deep water table. Moreover, the study effectively revealed that remote sensing and GIS could be developed as potent tools for mapping potential sites for groundwater utilization. Furthermore, MIF technique could be a suitable approach for delineation of groundwater potential zone, which can be applied for further research in different areas.
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DOI: 10.3390/atmos12060669
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