Abstract: In this study, the groundwater recharge experiments by pit irrigation and well irrigation were carried out in a valley by measuring the attenuation of recharge volume and the variation of permeability coefficient so as to analyze the recharge effect. The results show that the attenuation of pit irrigation recharge volume was 24% at the metaphase and 40% at the last stage respectively, the rise of groundwater level varied in a range of 1.1-1.3 m, but the formed water dome was small, which reveals that the horizontal permeation capability of the test layer was high. The attenuation of well irrigation recharge volume was 33%, it was stable at the last stage, and the permeability coefficient of the aquifer was gradually decreased with the increase of distance away from the main hole. Recharge volume and permeability coefficient decreased rapidly at the early stage, then they were decreased gradually till relatively stable, and such process was universal. Mechanical blockage of pores was caused by suspended solids in the pit and well irrigation experiments, for the pit irrigation experiment, slurry was more direct, the groundwater recharge by irrigation was decreased with the increase of mud cake thickness. It is considered that the large-scale groundwater recharge should be dominated by pit irrigation.

Key words: groundwater, artificial groundwater recharge, well irrigation, pit irrigation, permeability coefficient, Xinjiang