Assessing Spatially Heterogeneous Impact of Land Use Land Cover Dynamics on Groundwater Quality Using Geostatistical Approach

Abstract

Groundwater serves as a critical resource for domestic consumption, agriculture, and industrial applications worldwide. However, its quality is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities, especially land use and land cover (LULC) changes, which alter the quality status and affect aquifer vulnerability. Hence, it is important to understand the spatiotemporal pattern of this impact to develop sustainable land and water management plans. This study examines the spatial heterogeneity of the impact of LULC dynamics on groundwater quality in an anthropogenically affected zone using decadal dataset. A combination of remote sensing application and GIS-based spatial analysis was employed to evaluate eight key LULC transitions. These transition-maps were then overlaid with spatial nitrate-concentration data from groundwater samples to evaluate how different land-use changes affect groundwater quality across space. Results indicate that there is spatial heterogeneity in the impact of LULC transitions. Nitrate concentrations rose sharply in land areas converted to crop land and built-up zones, with the largest increases seen when fallow or waste lands were turned into crop land, where nitrate concentration (mg/l)changed from -30.384 to +92.751 and from -30.879 to +95.125 respectively. In contrast, changes were smaller where scrub forests were altered. Waterbody areas also showed increases, but not as strong as agricultural or urban shifts. The overall analysis regarding the impact of LULC transition does not exhibit the details of spatial distribution. It will guide the land and water management policy makers to develop more local-based planning to achieve sustainability aiding the cause of SDG 6.

Introduction

Groundwater is a vital resource for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use, supplying a significant portion of freshwater worldwide and particularly in regions like India. Overexploitation, agricultural expansion, fertilizer use, urbanization, and industrial activities are causing groundwater depletion and contamination, especially with nitrates, fluoride, and other harmful chemicals, posing serious health and environmental risks. Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes strongly influence groundwater quality, with agricultural-to-built-up conversions, intensive irrigation, and fertilizer application altering recharge patterns and contaminant levels.

This study focuses on Birbhum district, West Bengal, where groundwater is primarily used for irrigation, and nitrate contamination is a concern in shallow aquifers. Using an integrated geospatial and hydrochemical framework, the study employs multi-temporal satellite imagery (2005, 2015, 2025), GIS-based LULC mapping, groundwater sampling, and spatial interpolation to assess trends in land use, nitrate concentrations, and their spatial correlations. LULC change detection highlights transitions such as cropland expansion, urbanization, and land reclamation, while groundwater quality analysis evaluates 14 key parameters. The research aims to identify contamination hotspots, quantify the impact of LULC changes on nitrate levels, and provide a framework for sustainable groundwater management.

Conclusion

The groundwater quality in Birbhum district exhibited notable spatial and temporal variations between 2005 and 2025, influenced by both natural factors and human activities. Key parameters such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and ions including nitrate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and sodium showed significant changes over time. Interpolated maps using the IDW method indicated higher EC, TDS, and nitrate levels in regions with intensive agriculture and expanding urban areas. Nitrate concentrations, in particular, increased, with high-value clusters appearing in southern and central regions due to excessive fertilizer use and inadequate waste management. Lower nitrate levels were observed in forested or minimally disturbed areas, while rapid land use transitions, such as conversion of fallow or forest land to cropland or built-up zones, corresponded to rising nitrate. The study highlights agricultural intensification and urbanization as key drivers of contamination and underscores the need for sustainable land and water management to protect groundwater resources. Future studies should monitor groundwater over long periods to track nitrate and other contaminants and use models to predict changes. Land use, population growth, agriculture, and climate impacts should be considered to manage water sustainably. Research should cover different regions and identify vulnerable areas. Tools like GIS, remote sensing, and AI can help track pollution and detect hotspots. Studies should also look at other contaminants and test solutions like managed aquifer recharge, constructed wetlands, and careful fertilizer use. Collaboration with government, communities, and NGOs is important to promote sustainable practices and protect groundwater.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Sanjib Das, Rijurekha Dasgupta, Sribas Kanji, Gourab Banerjee, Asis Mazumdar. 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.