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ARS Home » Plains Area » Temple, Texas » Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #281822
Title: Simulating landscape sediment transport capacity by using a modified SWAT model

Author
item BONUMA, NADIA - Federal University Of Pelotas
item Rossi, Colleen
item Arnold, Jeffrey
item REICHERT, JOSE - Federal University Of Pelotas
item MINELLA, JEAN - Federal University - Brazil
item ALLEN, PETER - Baylor University
item VOLK, MARTIN - Helmholtz Centre

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2012
Publication Date: 1/1/2014
Citation: Bonuma, N.B., Rossi, C.G., Arnold, J.G., Reichert, J.M., Minella, J., Allen, P.M., Volk, M. 2014. Simulating landscape sediment transport capacity by using a modified SWAT model. Journal of Environmental Quality. 43(1):55-66.

Interpretive Summary: Brazil has some of the largest fresh water reserves in the world and the erosion of sediment can degrade its water quality. A computer-based simulation was used to evaluate sediment transport before and after changes were made to the sediment routine to determine if the sediment erosion from the steep slopes present in the Arroio Lino watershed in Southern Brazil could be better predicted. The addition of a new equation based on observed processes within the watershed increased the efficiency of the sediment simulation results. The computer model will need to be tested further in other watersheds with different conditions but knowing local processes aided the simulation estimate process considerably.

Technical Abstract: Sediment delivery from hillslopes to rivers is spatially variable and may lead to long-term delays between initial erosion and related sediment yield at the watershed outlet. Consideration of spatial variability is important for developing sound strategies for water quality improvement and soil protection at the watershed scale. Hence, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was modified and tested in this study to simulate landscape sediment transport capacity. The study area was the steeply sloped Arroio Lino watershed in Southern Brazil. Observed sediment yield data at the watershed outlet were used for the modified model calibration and validation. For the calibration period, the modified model performed better than the unaltered version of SWAT, achieving a Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE) of 0.7 and -0.1, respectively. Nash-Sutcliffe coefficients were less for the validation period, however, the modified model was higher than the unaltered model (-1.4 and -12.1, respectively). Despite the partly low NSE values, the results of this first test are promising since the model modifications lowered the percent bias in sediment yield from 73 percent to 18 percent. Simulation results for the modified model indicated that approximately 60% of the mobilized soil is being deposited along the landscape before it reaches the river channels. This research demonstrates the altered model’s ability to simulate sediment yield in watersheds with steep slopes. The results suggest that integration of the sediment deposition routine in SWAT increases accuracy in steeper areas, while significantly improving its ability to predict the spatial distribution of sediment deposition areas. Further work is needed with regard to i) improved strategies for spatially distributed sedimentation transport measurements (for improving process knowledge and model evaluation), and ii) extensive model tests in other well instrumented experimental watersheds with differing topographic configurations and land uses.