Effect of irrigated agriculture development on evolution of shallow groundwater system in Delingshan area, Inner Mongolia

In order to understand the effect of irrigated agriculture development on evolution of shallow groundwater system, shallow groundwater system condition of Delingshan area of Inner Mongolia in 1979 was taken as nature condition which was not strongly disturbanced by human activity. The variations of groundwater recharged and discharged in 2008 were calculated using water balance principle, and the groundwater quality was evaluated. The evolution direction and extent were analyzed by comparison of variation of shallow groundwater system input (supply item) and output (discharge item), as well as hydraulic field and chemical field under natural condition and current condition. The results show that irrigated agriculture has become the main factor of shallow groundwater evolution. The effect of irrigated agriculture on evolution hydraulic field of study area expressed in continued reduction of groundwater level and severe change of the groundwater flow field. The effect on evolution of groundwater system chemical field expressed in the change of groundwater chemical types and increase of groundwater pollution.