Grain Size Distribution Analysis of Italva Village Soil and its Influence on Groundwater Quality in Navsari District, Gujarat

Abstract

Groundwater is the primary source of drinking and irrigation water in many rural regions of Gujarat. The quality and recharge potential of groundwater are significantly influenced by the physical properties of soil, particularly grain size distribution. Grain size characteristics determine soil permeability, filtration capacity, and hydraulic conductivity, which collectively affect groundwater movement and natural purification processes. The present study investigates the grain size distribution of soil samples collected from Italva village in Navsari district, Gujarat, to understand their influence on groundwater recharge and quality. Laboratory sieve analysis was performed to determine particle size distribution and soil gradation characteristics. Parameters such as effective particle size (D10), coefficient of uniformity (Cu), and coefficient of curvature (Cc) were calculated. The results indicate that the soil predominantly consists of fine to medium sand with minor silt fractions, suggesting moderate permeability and favorable groundwater recharge conditions. The grain size distribution curve also indicates that the soil possesses natural filtration properties that can contribute to groundwater quality improvement. The findings of this study are useful for planning groundwater management strategies and designing artificial recharge structures in Italva village.

Introduction

Groundwater is essential for rural communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. In Gujarat, India, it serves as a major source for drinking and irrigation. However, over-extraction, population growth, and intensive agriculture have created challenges for groundwater sustainability and quality. Soil properties, particularly grain size distribution, play a critical role in determining groundwater infiltration, aquifer permeability, and natural filtration of contaminants. Understanding these properties is essential for effective groundwater management.

Study Area
The research focuses on Italva village in Navsari district, southern Gujarat, which relies heavily on groundwater for domestic and agricultural use. The region predominantly consists of alluvial soils with layers of sand, silt, and clay, influencing infiltration and storage capacity.

Methodology

• Sample Collection: Soil samples collected from 2–5 m depth at three locations.
• Grain Size Analysis: Standard sieve method; samples were oven-dried, weighed, sieved, and percentages retained and passing were calculated.
• Data Processing: Grain size distribution curves plotted; Uniformity Coefficient (Cu) and Coefficient of Curvature (Cc) calculated.

Results

• Grain Size Parameters: D10 = 0.73 mm, D30 = 1.69 mm, D60 = 3.78 mm
• Coefficients: Cu = 5.18, Cc = 1.04 → soil classified as poorly graded sand (SP)
• Hydraulic Conductivity: Using Hazen’s method, K = 0.00533 m/s (≈1510 ft/day)
• Implication: High permeability indicates good aquifer productivity and strong groundwater recharge potential.

Conclusion

The present study evaluated the grain size distribution of soil samples from Italva village in Navsari district, Gujarat to understand their influence on groundwater recharge and quality. The results of sieve analysis indicates that the soil is classified as Poorly Graded Sand (SP) with high hydraulic conductivity, making it favourable for groundwater recharge in the Italva area of Navsari district. As the hydraulic conductivity value indicates high permeability, such type of sandy soils allow water to infiltrate easily through soil pores, which promotes groundwater recharge. Therefore, the soil in the study area supports groundwater recharge and contributes to maintaining groundwater quality, which is suitable for groundwater recharge structures such as Recharge wells, Percolation pits, Infiltration basins. Regular monitoring of soil and groundwater characteristics is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability of groundwater resources in Italva village.

References

[1] Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ground Water Year Book – Gujarat State, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, 2019. [2] R. A. Freeze and J. A. Cherry, Groundwater, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1979. [3] B. M. Das, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2015. [4] D. K. Todd and L. W. Mays, Groundwater Hydrology, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2005. [5] Terzaghi, K., & Peck, R. (1967). Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. Wiley. [6] Fetter, C.W. (2001). Applied Hydrogeology. Prentice Hall. [7] Central Ground Water Board (2014). Groundwater Year Book – Gujarat. [8] BIS (1985). IS 2720 (Part 4): Grain Size Analysis of Soil. [9] APHA (2012). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. [10] Kumar, M., et al. (2018). Hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater in Gujarat. Journal of Hydrology. [11] WHO (2017). Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. [12] Karanth, K.R. (2008). Groundwater Assessment Development and Management. [13] Singh, A. (2019). Soil permeability and groundwater recharge studies. International Journal of Environmental Studies.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Mr. Hemanshu K. Rana, Dr. Neeraj D. Sharma . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.