Spatial and Temporal Trend Analysis of Groundwater Depth and Salinity Using Geostatistics Integrated With GIS in the Koprucay Irrigation System in Antalya, Turkey

ABSTRACT Monitoring the spatiotemporal variations in groundwater parameters is essential for the effective management of water resources in irrigated agricultural regions. This study aims to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in groundwater depth (GD) and salinity (EC) within the command area of the Koprucay Irrigation System via geostatistical methods integrated with geographic information systems. Trend analyses of the GD and EC values were conducted via the Mann–Kendall test. Our results revealed that the slope of the GD trend exhibited an increasing trend across nearly the entire area. Conversely, concerning the initial value of the trend slope, the entire study area was identified as falling within the ‘risky’ range. Furthermore, the slope of the EC trend demonstrated an increasing trend in only 16% of the study area. In terms of the initial value of the EC trend slope, it was determined that ‘risky’ areas are restricted to a narrow section. These results were probably because the irrigation system was an open channel network and that surface irrigation methods were still dominant in the region. In conclusion, the study highlights significant spatial disparities and temporal trends in GD and EC, underscoring the need for region‐specific management strategies.