Search

For demographic, societal and climatic reasons, many countries have to manage changing agricultural territories and the evolution of these agricultural territories should accelerate by the global changes. In the Mediterranean area, traditional gravity-fed irrigation systems and associated channel networks are still widely used in agricultural territories. These systems affect landscapes and have had a lasting effect on the water cycle. Gravity-fed irrigation water contributes to the creation or maintenance of wetlands and contributes to the recharge of aquifers. A specific biodiversity is observed in irrigated areas and in areas crossed by irrigation canal networks. On the outskirts of urban centers, urbanization often extends over agricultural land, leading to an abandonment of gravity irrigation. In a climate change context, gravity irrigation may also disappear in favour of other more water-efficient irrigation techniques.The current challenges therefore relate to:- the identification of solutions to ensure the sustainability of channel networks and to mitigate the impact of the disappearance of gravity-fed irrigation perimeters.- the implementation of these solutions by land planners.We focused our work on a business area created within a sector where water from channels formerly used for gravity-fed irrigation is now used for watering green areas via a pressure network. This choice makes it possible to perpetuate the network of canals carrying water over the territory but some services initially provided by the irrigated perimeters such as the groundwater recharge or the reception of a specific biodiversity are no longer guaranteed there.The atypical management of a stormwater retention basin, combining stormwater and irrigation water, has led to the creation of an artificial wetland that encourages the establishment of aquatic-dependent vertebrate animal species, including the unexpected presence of typical reed bed species. On the other hand, the invertebrate population remains sparse due to the rather irregular watering rate of the wetland.Monitoring of water levels in this wetland shows that this basin leads to very large exchanges of water, both to groundwater and to the atmosphere, which can compensate for the flows disturbance induced by the abandonment of gravity irrigation.

Wetlands are essential for humankind as they provide climate change mitigation through ecosystem services. Peatlands are wetlands also known as carbon sinks through peat accumulation. In the Mediterranean, peatlands represent up to 42% of the total wetland surface but remain under-investigated. The existing knowledge suggests they are shaped by their local environment, making them small, scattered, and groundwater-dependent. One of the most important knowledge gaps lies in the characterization and quantification of the water balance components necessary for biodiversity conservation and peat accumulation. Thus, additional information on peatlands could help delineate their hydrological vulnerability and resilience capacity to climate change. Approaches combining water level monitoring, geochemistry, and isotope hydrology tools have been widely employed to characterize the origin, periodicity, and recharge mechanisms of very large and well-developed wetlands mainly in cold humid climates. The same approach towards the investigation of more seasonal and inhomogeneous recharge mechanisms of Mediterranean peatlands is largely missing and has never been attempted to investigate the subsequent impacts on their carbon balance. To fill this gap, the alluvial peatland of Moltifau has been selected for its location in the western Mediterranean region at low altitude worsening seasonal drought conditions and vulnerability to climate change. An innovative multi-tracing experiment including geochemical and isotope hydrology tools such as physic-chemical parameters, major ions, δ18O, δ2H, 3H, 87Sr/86Sr and δ13CDIC has been conducted benefiting from strong isotope contrasts due to varied lithology in a high elevation catchment. Five quarterly field campaigns in contrasting hydrological conditions were carried out between May-2018 and Jun-2019. The tracers highlighted the peatland’s rain and river dependency during fall-winter, as well as its river and multiple groundwater origin during spring-summer. Furthermore, our results show the impacts of such a recharge seasonality on hydrochemical processes and explain most of the variation in carbon fluxes, except in summer. In the future, the analysis and interpretation of peat chemical properties and isotopic signatures of CO2 emissions will provide further information on the carbon storage dynamics of Mediterranean peatlands. This work illustrates the strong potential of isotopes in the study of water and carbon cycle interactions at the hydro-ecosystem scale.

The Barthelasse alluvial aquifer has been used for decades to supply water to 180,000 inhabitants. The pumping field is located around 200 m from the Rhône river which makes it particularly vulnerable to any pollution from the Rhône. Between the Rhône and the pumping field is a Girardon unit whose role is to stabilise the banks and to facilitate river navigation. A fortnightly monitoring over a full hydrological year as well as hourly sampling during a flood event in winter 2019 were carried out to study the transfer processes between the Rhône and the pumping field. Samples were collected in the Girardon unit and in the pumping field.The Rhône showed cyclicality in its isotopic signature with enrichment in heavy isotopes during the winter period, particularly during floods and a depletion during the summer period. This variation was also found within the alluvial aquifer. The application of LPMs models showed that the average transfer time between the Rhône and the Girardon unit was 20 days and 50 days between the Rhône and the Barthelasse pumping field. For the Girardon unit, this result was confirmed using a high frequency monitoring of electric conductivity.This study highlighted the importance of using a sampling strategy including several frequencies to consider the diversity of hydrological situations. For the Rhône, event-based monitoring proved relevant to account for isotopic variability throughout the year. Models calibration procedure was also discussed. In LPM models, the RMSE criterion is the most commonly used. It is recommended to use standardised criteria instead and to adapt the choice of the criterion to the observed isotopic variability. This work also highlighted the impact of the disruption of hydraulic exchanges between the river and the water table caused by the presence of the Girardon unit in terms of the propagation of contaminants.

Groundwater extracted from the Barthelasse Island aquifer, surrounded by the river Rhone (southeastern France), contributes to the drinking water supplies of 180,000 inhabitants. Owing to its location close to the river and the presence of two backwaters (oxbow lakes), the pumped groundwater is highly vulnerable to river pollution. A pumping test was conducted over 24 h to analyse and quantify the water exchange processes between the river, backwaters and groundwater. During the pumping test, isotopic (δ18O, δ2H and 222Rn), hydrochemical and hydrophysical monitoring of the groundwater was undertaken. Hydraulic heads were measured in pumping wells and at a piezometer located between the wells. Discrete water samples were collected at several observation points in the field, including the backwater and river. The results show mixing between three end-members, as defined by the deuterium excess and silica concentration, led by river Rhone water which had been affected by water–rock interactions over time and mixing with surface evaporated waters. The pumped water resulted from mixing between three end-members, all of which depended on the river Rhone but differed in terms of residence time in the system. Although the groundwater pumping wells are close to each other (

The Barthelasse alluvial aquifer is used to supply water to 180,000 inhabitants. The pumping field is located less than 200 m from the Rhône and is 100% fed by water from the Rhône, which makes it particularly vulnerable to any pollution from the Rhône. Between the Rhône and the pumping field is a Girardon unit, an arrangement that can be found regularly along the banks of the lower and middle reaches of the Rhône, and whose role is to stabilise the banks (alluvial deposits) and to facilitate river navigation. In order to know the transfer times between the Rhône and the pumping field, fortnightly monitoring was carried out over a hydrological year, as well as hourly monitoring during a flood in the winter of 2019. The Rhône shows a cyclicality in its isotopic signature with enrichment in heavy isotopes during the winter period, particularly during floods, and a depletion during the summer period. This variation is found well within the associated alluvial aquifer. The application of LPMs models showed that the average transfer time between the Rhône and the Girardon unit was 20 days and 50 days between the Rhône and the Barthelasse pumping. This study highlighted the importance of using several sampling frequencies to consider the diversity of hydrological situations. For the Rhône, event-based monitoring (flooding) proved to be relevant to account for isotopic variability throughout the year. This work also highlighted the impact of the disruption of hydraulic exchanges between the river and the water table caused by the presence of the Girardon unit in terms of the propagation of contaminants.

Mediterranean peatlands remain largely under-documented, except for detailed biological data such as fauna and flora taxa lists, and yet are increasingly threatened by water withdrawal and agriculture practices. This lack of information, particularly on their hydrogeological functioning, makes it impossible to evaluate their response to changing climate conditions. A pilot study on a representative Mediterranean peatland on the island of Corsica (France) was conducted to evaluate recharge modalities in the peatland using a coupled water-level monitoring, geochemical and isotope multi-tracing approach (electric conductivity, major ions, δ18O, δ2H, 3H, 87Sr/86Sr). The goal was to understand how water budgets in peatland ecosystems were maintained throughout the year, especially during the summer. Despite the remarkable stability of the peatland water level, the recharge contributions of varied water bodies through an alluvial aquifer vary significantly from one season to another. An end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) indicates that the peatland is mainly recharged by an alluvial aquifer. During fall-winter, the alluvial aquifer on which the peatland depends is recharged by the rainfall, a river, and shallow groundwater (colluvium). During spring-summer, water supply is provided mostly by a river, shallow, and deep groundwater (fractured granite). However, this specific hydrogeological functioning is not taken into account by environmental management policies making peatlands vulnerable to anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Thus, their actual status regarding water and aquatic environment management policies is discussed to provide recommendations for better consideration and preservation.

This article has an erratum: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20198802003Présentation d'une communication à la conférence internationale i-DUST 2018 – Inter-Disciplinary Underground Science & Technology (2018/06/04-05), Avignon (FRA); International audience; Groundwater is a major source of water for irrigation of vegetables, especially in the Mediterranean basin. Contamination of aquifer by pathogens has been responsible for numerous disease outbreaks worldwide. Several studies reported that groundwater dissolved organic matter (DOM) can serve as a source of carbon and energy for heterotrophic metabolism of pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the DOM composition of groundwater collected at Avignon. Six liters of groundwater were filtered (0.2 µm) and freeze-dried following appropriate cleaning procedure. The bulk analyses of powder sample were performed using 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. Several components were found at concentrations around 1 µM and comprise : (i) humic and fulvic acids originated from land-derived material or soils and, (ii) various acids, esters and alcohols of different sizes including acetate, lactate and formate, these may result from microbial metabolism. In conclusion, the Avignon groundwater DOM contains a heterogeneous mixture of dissolved organic components with a rather low potential bioreactivity based on the low level of labile biogeochemicals such as carbohydrates.

International audience; Southwestern Madagascar is a semi-arid region and a hot-spot of global change. On the Mahafaly plateau, people live with quasi-permanent water stress and groundwater, the only available resource, is difficult to exploit due to a complex hydrogeological environment. A methodology (suitable for humanitarian projects

sous-presse; International audience; Karst environments are unusual because their dry, stony and shallow soils seem to be unfavorable to vegetation, and yet they are often covered with forests. How can trees survive in these environments ? Where do they find the water that allows them to survive? This study uses midday and predawn water potentials and xylem water isotopes of branches to assess tree water status and the origin of transpired water. Monitoring was conducted during the summers of 2014 and 2015 in two dissimilar plots of Mediterranean forest located in karst environments. The results show that the three monitored tree species (Abies alba Mill, Fagus sylvatica L, and Quercus ilex L.) use deep water resources present in the karst vadose zone (unsaturated zone) more intensively during drier years. Quercus ilex, a species welladapted to water stress, which grows at the drier site, uses the deep water resource very early in the summer season. Conversely, the two other species exploit the deep water resource only during severe drought. These results open up new perspectives to a better understanding of ecohydrological equilibrium and to improved water balance modeling in karst forest settings.

In regions where aquifers sustain rivers, the location and quantification of groundwater discharge to surface water are important to prevent pollution hazards, to quantify and predict low flows and to manage water supplies. 222Rn is commonly used to determine groundwater discharge to rivers. However, using this isotopic tracer is challenging because of the high diffusion capacity of 222Rn in open water. This study illustrates how a combination of isotopic tracers can contribute to an enhanced understanding of groundwater discharge patterns in small rivers. The aim of this paper is to combine 222Rn and δ13CDIC to better constrain the physical parameters related to the degassing process of these tracers in rivers. The Hallue River (northern France) was targeted for this study because it is sustained almost exclusively by a fractured chalk aquifer. The isotopes 222Rn, δ13CDIC, δ2H and δ18O were analysed along with other natural geochemical tracers. A mass balance model was used to simulate 222Rn and δ13CDIC. The results of δ2H and δ18O analyses prove that evaporation did not occur in the river. The calibration of a numerical model to reproduce 222Rn and δ13CDIC provides a best-fit diffusive layer thickness of 3.21 × 10−5 m. This approach is particularly useful for small rivers flowing over carbonate aquifers with high groundwater DIC where the evolution of river DIC reflects the competing processes of groundwater inflow and CO2 degassing. This approach provides a means to evaluate groundwater discharge in small ungauged rivers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Radiocarbon decay is rarely used to assess the residence time of modern groundwater due to the low resolution of its long half-life in comparison to the expected range of ages. Nonetheless, the modern 14C peak induced by the nuclear bomb tests traces efficiently the impacts of recent human activities on groundwater recharge, as well as for tritium. A simple lumped parameter model (LPM) was implemented in order to assess the interest of 14C and 3H nuclear peaks in a highly anthropized aquifer system of southeastern Spain under intense agricultural development. It required i) to assess a correction factor for modern 14C activities and ii) to reconstruct the 3H recharge input function, affected by irrigation. In such a complex hydrogeological context, an exponential model did not provide satisfying results for all samples. A better solution was reached by taking into account the qualitative recent variation of the recharge rates into a combined exponential flow and piston flow model. Apart from presenting an uncommon approach for 14C dating of modern groundwater, this study highlights the need of considering not only the variation of the tracer but also the variability of recharge rates in LPMs.

14C dating of groundwater depends on the isotopic composition of both the solid carbonate and the soil CO2 and requires the use of 14C age correction models. To better assess the variability of the 14C activity of soil CO2 (A14Csoil-CO2) and the δ13C of soil CO2 (δ13Csoil-CO2), which are two parameters used in 14C age correction models, we studied the different processes involving carbon isotopes in the soil. The approach used experimental data from two sites in France (Fontainebleau sands and Astian sands) and a steady-state transport model. In most cases, the 14C activity (A14C) of atmospheric CO2 is directly used in the 14C age correction models as the A14Csoil-CO2. However, we demonstrate that since 1950, the evolution of the A14Csoil-CO2 reflects the competition between the fluxes of root-derived CO2 and organic matter-derived CO2. Therefore, the A14Csoil-CO2 must be used to date groundwater that is younger than 60 years old. Moreover, the δ13C of soil CO2 (δ13Csoil-CO2) showed large seasonal variations that must be taken into account in selecting the δ13Csoil-CO2 for 14C age correction models.

The Chalk aquifer of Champagne (France) baseline geochemistry has been determined using a solid solution approach for the modelling of calcite dissolution. The water–rock interactions are modelled by the speciation code CHESS from field data and Ca, Mg and Sr aqueous concentrations in groundwater. The stoichiometries of solid solutions are defined in each stratigraphic unit of the Chalk aquifer from bulk geochemistry and Chalk mineralogy of samples taken from boreholes. The initial mineralisation of water at the bottom of the unsaturated zone and the characterisation of the theoretical evolution of groundwater chemistry along the flow lines associated with incongruent calcite dissolution are calculated from this approach.

14C dating models are limited when considering recent groundwater for which the carbon isotopic signature of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (TDIC) is mainly acquired in the unsaturated zone. Reducing the uncertainties of dating thus implies a better identification of the processes controlling the carbon isotopic composition of the TDIC during groundwater recharge. Geochemical interactions between gas, water and carbonates in the unsaturated zone were investigated for two aquifers (the carbonate-free Fontainebleau sands and carbonate-bearing Astian sands, France) in order to identify the respective roles of CO2 and carbonates on the carbon isotopic signatures of the TDIC; this analysis is usually approached using open or closed system terms. Under fully open system conditions, the seasonality of the 13C values in the soil CO2 can lead to important uncertainties regarding the so-called “initial 14C activity” used in 14C correction models. In a carbonate-bearing unsaturated zone such as in the Astian aquifer, we show that an approach based on fully open or closed system conditions is not appropriate. Although the chemical saturation between water and calcite occurs rapidly within the first metre of the unsaturated zone, the carbon isotopic contents (δ13C) of the CO2 and the TDIC evolve downward, impacted by the dissolution–precipitation of the carbonates. In this study, we propose a numerical approach to describe this evolution. The δ13C and the A14C (radiocarbon activity) of the TDIC at the base of the carbonate-bearing unsaturated zone depends on (i) the δ13C and the A14C of the TDIC in the soil determined by the soil CO2, (ii) the water’s residence time in the unsaturated zone and (iii) the carbonate precipitation–dissolution fluxes. In this type of situation, the carbonate δ13C–A14C evolutions indicate the presence of secondary calcite and permit the calculation of its accretion flux, equal to ∼4.5±0.5×10-9molgrock-1yr-1. More generally, for other sites under temperate climate and with similar properties to the Astian sands site, this approach allows for a reliable determination of the carbon isotopic composition at the base of the unsaturated zone as the indispensable “input function” data of the carbon cycle into the aquifer.

The behaviour of the sporulating soil-dwellingBacillus cereus sensu lato(B. cereus sl) which includes foodborne pathogenic strains has been extensively studied in relation to its various animal hosts. The aim of this environmental study was to investigate the water compartments (rain and soil water, as well as groundwater) closely linked to the primaryB. cereus slreservoir, for which available data are limited.B. cereus slwas present, primarily as spores, in all of the tested compartments of an agricultural site, including water from rain to groundwater through soil. During rain events, leachates collected after transfer through the soil eventually reached the groundwater and were loaded withB. cereus sl. In groundwater samples, newly introduced spores of aB. cereusmodel strain were able to germinate, and vegetative cells arising from this event were detected for up to 50 days. This firstB. cereus slinvestigation in the various types of interrelated environments suggests that the consideration of the aquatic compartment linked to soil and to climatic events should provide a better understanding ofB. cereus slecology and thus be relevant for a more accurate risk assessment of food poisoning caused byB. cereus slpathogenic strains.

International audience

International audience; s u m m a r y Water–rock interactions are major processes that control the solute transfer (from natural or anthropo-genic sources) in aquifers. In carbonate aquifers, these water–rock interactions are mainly characterised by the incongruent dissolutions of carbonates. The in situ quantification of these reactions is few studied. In the present paper, we provide a new quantification of the kinetic rates of simultaneous incongruent dissolution of composite carbonate and dolomite in a Chalk aquifer. The approach is based on a mass-balance model used to calculate the rates of mineral dissolution and precipitation along a 500 m to 4 km flow path starting at the groundwater divide line. The groundwater transfer times between the groundwater divide line and the wells are calculated thanks to flow and transport modelling, used in a backward particle tracking mode. The uncertainties on porosity, dispersivity and transmissivity are taken into account. The rates are found ranging between 1.5 Â 10 À5 and 1.5 Â 10 À4 mol C5 chalk L À1 w yr À1 for the composite carbonate dissolution, between 1.0 Â 10 À7 and 3.0 Â 10 À6 mol dolomite L À1 w yr À1 for the dolomite dissolution and between 1.0 Â 10 À5 and 1.5 Â 10 À4 mol calcite L À1 w yr À1 for the calcite precipitation. The results highlight the importance of physical and geological properties of the aquifer.

International audience

[1] Temperature reconstructions for recent centuries are the basis of estimations of the natural variability in the climate system before and during the onset of anthropogenic perturbation. Here we present, for the first time, an independent and physically based reconstruction of mean annual temperature over the past half millennium obtained from groundwater in France. The reconstructed noble gas temperature (NGT) record suggests cooler than present climate conditions throughout the 16th–19th centuries. Periods of warming occur in the 17th–18th and 20th century, while cooling is reconstructed in the 19th century. A noticeable coincidence with other temperature records is demonstrated. Deuterium excess varies in parallel with the NGT, and indicates variation in the seasonality of the aquifer recharge; whereas high excess air in groundwater indicates periods with high oscillations of the water table.

International audience; Radiocarbon decay is rarely used to assess the residence time of modern groundwater due to the low resolution of its long half-life in comparison to the expected range of ages. Nonetheless, the modern 14 C peak induced by the nuclear bomb tests traces efficiently the impacts of recent human activities on groundwater recharge, as well as for tritium. A simple lumped parameter model (LPM) was implemented in order to assess the interest of 14 C and 3 H nuclear peaks in a highly anthropized aquifer system of southeastern Spain under intense agricultural development. It required i) to assess a correction factor for modern 14 C activities and ii) to reconstruct the 3 H recharge input function, affected by irrigation. In such a complex hydrogeological context, an exponential model did not provide satisfying results for all samples. A better solution was reached by taking into account the qualitative recent variation of the recharge rates into a combined exponential flow and piston flow model. Apart from presenting an uncommon approach for 14 C dating of modern groundwater, this study highlights the need of considering not only the variation of the tracer but also the variability of recharge rates in LPMs.

(IF 3.63; Q1); International audience; Karstaquifers and watersheds represent a major source of drinking water around the world. They are also known as complex and often highly vulnerable hydrosystems due to strong surface-groundwater interactions. Improving the understanding of karst functioning is thus a major issue for the efficient management of karst groundwater resources. A comprehensive understanding of the various processes can be achieved only by studying karst systems across a wide range of spatiotemporal scales under different geological, geomorphological, climatic, and soil cover settings. The objective of the French Karst National Observatory Service (SNO KARST) is to supply the international scientific community with appropriate data and tools, with the ambition of (i) facilitating the collection of long-term observations of hydrogeochemical variables in karst, and (ii) promoting knowledge sharing and developing cross-disciplinary research on karst. This paper provides an overview of the monitoring sites and collective achievements, such as the KarstMod modular modeling platform and the PaPRIKa toolbox, of SNO KARST. It also presents the research questions addressed within the framework of this network, along with major research results regarding (i) the hydrological response of karst to climate and anthropogenic changes, (ii) the influence of karst on geochemical balance of watersheds in the critical zone, and (iii) the relationships between the structure and hydrological functioning of karst aquifers and watersheds.

A new methodology based on geochemistry and biology interfacing to study the sustainability of an irrigated agriculture system in the face of global changes (climate and urban sprawl). It requires construction of a spatio-temporal view of the ”irrigation - meadow (plant) - soil - groundwater” system evolution. Thereby two approaches are used : the field study and the modeling. The field study includes temporal and spatial survey of waters quality, plant quality and used fertilizers. The modeling consists of a biogeochemical model taking into account all the factors reaction of the system. The main theme is the mechanisms of acquiring the chemical composition of water during its transfer the soil horizon from irrigation water to groundwater. These mechanisms are studied from the double point of view of their geochemical balances and soil / solution reactions. The data acquisition thus relates to : (1) the chemical composition of irrigation water and groundwater ; (2) the soil mineralogy ; (3) the nature of the provided fertilizer ; (4) quantity of chemical elements uptaken by plants. The biogeochemical model consists in interfacing the crop model (STICS) and the geochemical model (PHREEQC). This model is able to perform the chemical evolution of waters during their pathway in the soil and to highlight the major processes that determine the water quality ; in output, it makes it possible to establish geochemical indicators relevant to the system management. The Crau is chosen as a demo area, South France, its grassland production is based on surface irrigation via channels withdrawn from the Durance River. Irrigation water is rich in minerals and trace elements thanks to alluvium brought, on which produce high quality hay that is regulated under appellation control since 1997. Additionally, this irrigation recharge the aquifer by 70% But it is threatened by global changes, which ultimately risks to compromising the sustainability of the irrigated grassland system. Data analysis over a long term (1960-2013), the acquisition of recent data and modeling show the originality and durability of this irrigated agrosystem and Its resilience to an increase in temperature by about 2°C, both in terms of yields and hay quality. However, according to future scenarios, declining of irrigation water is forecasted, and changes in land use by 10% of the total area, with a reduction in irrigated grassland areas. This may jeopardize the sustainability of the the irrigated agrosystem and thus the water supply for local use (300 000 inhabitants, the heavy industries of the Fos-sur-Mer site).; Une nouvelle méthodologie fondée sur l’interfaçage de la géochimie et de la biologie a été utilisée pour étudier la durabilité d’un système d’agriculture irriguée face aux changements globaux (climat et urbanisation). L’étude de sa durabilité nécessite une vision dynamique spatio-temporelle de l’évolution d’un agrosystème irrigué, ici le système « irrigation – prairie (plante) – sol – nappe ». Pour cela, deux démarches sont utilisées : l’étude de terrain et la modélisation. L’étude de terrain comprend des suivis temporels et spatiaux de la qualité des eaux de surface, de la nappe phréatique et de la qualité du foin des prairies. La modélisation consiste en un modèle biogéochimique prenant en compte l’ensemble des compartiments réactionnels du système. Le fil directeur est constitué par les mécanismes d’acquisition de la composition chimique de l’eau lors de son transfert dans le sol depuis eau d’irrigation jusqu’à l’eau de nappe. Ces mécanismes sont étudiés du double point de vue de leurs bilans géochimiques et des réactions sol / solution. L’acquisition de données porte ainsi sur : (1) la composition chimique des eaux d’irrigation et des eaux souterraines de la nappe ; (2) la minéralogie des sols ; (3) la nature des engrais apporté ; (4) la quantité des éléments chimiques prélevés et exportés par les plantes. Le modèle biogéochimique consiste à interfacer le modèle de culture STICS et le modèle de géochimie PHREEQC. Ce modèle est capable de rendre compte de l’évolution des eaux lors de leur parcours dans le sol et de mettre en évidence les processus majeurs qui déterminent la qualité de l’eau ; en sortie, il permet d’établir des indicateurs géochimiques pertinents pour la gestion du système. Cette méthode est appliquée aux prairies irriguées en la Crau, au Sud de France. Le système d’irrigation gravitaire par les eaux de la Durance depuis le 16e siècle sur la Crau a construit un système agricole durable en amenant des alluvions sur les terres irriguées, sur lequel poussent les prairies (le foin de Crau (AOP)). De plus cette irrigation participe à plus de 70% au renouvellement des eaux de la nappe phréatique. L’analyse des données sur une longue durée (1960-2013), l’acquisition de données récentes et la modélisation montrent l’originalité et la durabilité de cet agrosystème irrigué et sa résilience face à une augmentation de température de 2°C, tant en ce qui concerne les rendements que la qualité du foin. Cependant dans la perspective des changements globaux, les prévisions tablent sur une disponibilité en eau pour l’irrigation en diminution, de plus des changements d’occupation du sol (10% de la surface totale), avec une réduction des prairies irriguées. Ceci risque de remettre en cause la durabilité de l’agrosystème irrigué et partant l’approvisionnement en eau à partir de la nappe de toute l’économie locale (300 000 habitants, les industries lourdes du site de Fos-sur-Mer).