Evaluation of best management practices for sediment and nutrient loss control using SWAT model

Abstract

The intensive study of an individual watershed is required to develop effective and efficient watershed management plans. Identification of critical erosion-prone areas of the watershed and implementation of best management practices (BMPs) is necessary to control the watershed degradation by reducing the sediment and nutrient losses. The present study evaluates and recommends the BMPs in an agriculture-based Marol watershed (5092 km 2 ) of India, using a hydrologic model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). After successful calibration and validation, the model simulated daily/monthly discharge and sediment were found satisfactory throughout the simulation period. The model was then applied with a calibrated set of parameters for evaluating the effectiveness of various management practices for sediment and nutrient loss control. Keeping in mind the existing agricultural practices, socio-economic aspects and geography of the study area, the management practices were focused on four crops (Maize, Rice, Soybeans and Ground nut), three fertilization levels (high, medium and low), four tillage treatments (Field cultivator, Conservation tillage, Zero tillage and Mould board plough), and two conservation operations (Contour farming and Filter strips). The simulated annual average sediment yield from the watershed was found to be 12.2 t.ha -1 yr -1 . The water balance analysis revealed that, the evapotranspiration is predominant over the watershed (approximately 46.3% of the annual average rainfall). Reduction in sediment yield and nutrient loss was observed with alternate cropping treatments of Groundnut and Soybean, as compared to Paddy and Maize cultivation. Overall, based on simulated results, the field cultivator tillage practice and conservation practices viz., contour

Exploring the possibilities of parsimonious nitrogen modelling in different ecosystems

“…On the one hand, the CF, CF+GFB and CF+HFB scenarios were more effective in reducing the organic nitrogen and the sorbed N-NH4 + (Figure 4-22) because these nitrogen forms are fixed to the sediments and their mobilization is associated to soil erosion and sediment yield, while N-NO3 -is more prone to be lost by leaching than via surface runoff (Randall and Mulla, 2001). This effect was also observed by Himanshu et al (2019) who found that contour farming and the installation of filter strips led to higher percentage reductions of organic nitrogen than N-NO3 -. On the other hand, the FM and FM+CR scenarios were effective in reducing the N-NO3 -.…”

Agroforestry, grass, biofuel crop, and row‐crop management effects on soil water dynamics for claypan landscapes

“…Therefore, controlling nutrient and sediment losses from croplands is required to enhance soil, water, and environmental quality (Blanco‐Canqui, ; Martin & Cassel, ). These challenges can be addressed by using and adapting sustainable vegetation management practices such as agroforestry, grass, and biofuel management systems (Himanshu, Pandey, Yadav, & Gupta, ; Jiang, Anderson, Kitchen, Sadler, & Sudduth, ; Kumar, Udawatta, & Anderson, ; Paudel, Udawatta, & Anderson, ).…”

“…Nonpoint-source pollution (NPSP) has become a significant threat to soil and water quality and agricultural production and has received higher global attention from many public agencies and scientists with efforts to find appropriate solutions (Alberts, Wendt, & Burwell, 1985;Conley et al, 2009;Dong, Liu, Wu, Chen, & Guo, 2018;Udawatta, Motavalli, & Garrett, 2004). Rainfall intensity is considered a major dynamic factor of runoff as well as sediment and nutrient (Himanshu, Pandey, Yadav, & Gupta, 2019;Jiang, Anderson, Kitchen, Sadler, & Sudduth, 2007;Kumar, Udawatta, & Anderson, 2010;Paudel, Udawatta, & Anderson, 2011).…”

Standardized precipitation index‐based approach to predict environmental flow condition

“…The major challenge for the water managers to fulfil the water requirements of people without imparting any deteriorating effect on the ecological services, provided by the healthy rivers (Bunn et al, ; Yao, Zheng, Tian, Li, & Liu, ). The rapid socioeconomic development and change in climatic conditions over the previous decades have greatly influenced global hydrologic cycle up to the extent of putting a threat to water security, wellness of aquatic ecosystem, and biodiversity of river (Amrit, Mishra, & Pandey, ; Dhami, Himanshu, Pandey, & Gautam, ; Himanshu, Pandey, & Patil, ; Himanshu, Pandey, Yadav, & Gupta, ; Jacobsen, Milner, Brown, & Dangles, ; Van Vliet et al, ; Vörösmarty et al, ). It is very important to understand the role of flow regulation for the sustainability of good hydro‐ecosystems (Turnbull et al, ; Yao et al, ).…”

“…& Pandey, 2017a; Dhami, Himanshu, Pandey, & Gautam, 2018;Himanshu, Pandey, & Patil, 2018;Himanshu, Pandey, Yadav, & Gupta, 2019;Jacobsen, Milner, Brown, & Dangles, 2012;Van Vliet et al, 2013;Vörösmarty et al, 2010). It is very important to understand the role of flow regulation for the sustainability of good hydro-ecosystems (Turnbull et al, 2012;Yao et al, 2018).…”