Abstract:
In north-east Algeria, the agricultural plain of Ain Djacer (35.9°N 6.3°E) is irrigated from the surficial aquifer,
comprises fluvial sediments of the Miocene-Pliocene-Quaternary age. During the last decade or so, the region has
known a rough drought and many surficial water sources dried out (Ziani 2009). The drought resulted an
increasing dependence on groundwater sources, and over-exploitation of the aquifer (Bencer 2005); in turn,
groundwater levels have dropped by 1 to 2 m.year-1 (Ziani 2009) and a progressive deterioration of the water
quality in the irrigated area with the appearance of areas of high salinity (TDS> 2 g / l) which create problems of
water use. (Ziani 2009).
