[en] Abstract
The alluvial plain of the Kou basin is located in the southwest of Burkina Faso. In this basin, the main surface water resource for agricultural needs is constituted by a small perennial river, but in recent years this resource is insufficient to satisfy the uses in agriculture. The alluvial plain which extends from either side of this river banks is expected to have the potential for constituting an alternative water supply for agricultural needs. However, the characterisation of the alluvial plain is still superficial though the plain extension and the nature of the deposits are roughly known. The objective of this study is to improve the characterisation of the alluvial plain, in particular the heterogeneity and the thickness of the deposits, using geophysical methods, namely Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Horizontal and Vertical Spectral Ratio (H/V SR). The ERT and H/V SR methods are non invasive geophysical techniques, simple, efficient, robust and easy-to-use geophysical tools in alluvial environment based respectively on the soil resistivity and the resonant frequency of superficial materials. In upstream of the alluvial plain, near the river, these methods were used to map the sandy to sandy-thin deposits (0-5m) and the unfractured bedrock. Downstream they highlight fractured and deconsolidated bedrock drawing a V-shaped geometry of deposits. This geometry is due to the faults and the magmatic intrusions. The bottom of the V-shaped would be filled mainly by fractured/deconsolidated bedrock materials and the edges by the clay and laterites deposits. The alluvial plain would be relatively thicker downstream of the study area (approximately 30 to 50m). A correlation is obtained between ERT images and resonance frequencies determined on the H/V profiles.
From a hydrogeological point of view, downstream of the study area, the alluvial plain would constitute an important aquifer with a high porosity and thick deposits. This aquifer could be easily accessible with rudimentary structures (such as sumps) and could constitute a supplementary water source, for irrigation activities in this second region of Burkina Faso.
