Evaluation of best management practices (BMPS) and their impact on environmental flow through SWAT+ model

• Published in: Modeling earth systems and environment 2024, Vol.10 (3), p.3181-3195
• Main Authors: Naganur, Shantinath, Patil, Nagraj S., Patil, Vivek, Pujar, Girish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Best management practices; Calibration; Chemistry and Earth Sciences; Comparative analysis; Computer Science; Concentration time; Digital Elevation Models; Digital mapping; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth System Sciences; Ecosystems; Environment; Environmental degradation; Environmental impact; Land cover; Land degradation; Land management; Land use; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Mathematical Applications in the Physical Sciences; Meteorological data; Original Article; Parameter sensitivity; Physics; Rain; Rain water; Rainfall; Remote sensing; Runoff; Sediment; Sediment yield; Sensitivity analysis; Soil classification; Soil degradation; Soil erosion; Soil maps; Statistics for Engineering; Sustainability management
• ISSN: 2363-6203; 2363-6211
• DOI: 10.1007/s40808-023-01951-8

This study addresses the critical issue of land degradation due to soil erosion in elevated agricultural lands, emphasizing the imminent threat to crop viability. Best Management Practices (BMPs) appear as a crucial strategy for mitigating soil deterioration and safeguarding rainwater resources. In the Kinaye sub-watershed, characterized by minimal concentration time, crops face withering within a week after rainfall ceases, prompting the implementation of BMPs. The research focuses on evaluating the implemented BMPs and their impact on environmental flow using the SWAT+ model. By employing a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the drainage region is subdivided into 52 sub-basins. Land usage and land cover (LULC) data are sourced from a Bhuvan Panchayat webpage, while soil classification details are extracted from a digital soil map prepared by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). Utilizing 24 years of daily meteorological data for SWAT+ simulation, model calibration, and validation rely on the flow record from 1996 to 2016. Parameter sensitivity analysis and model calibration, facilitated by the SWAT+ toolbox, reveal the efficacy of BMPs. Comparative analysis of runoff and sediment output with and without BMP implementation highlights a significant decrease in average monthly runoff (22.58%) and sediment yield (36.59%). The study additionally explores the reduction in annual flood event frequency, noting a decrease from 11 to 42 occurrences to 7 to 39. Despite the positive impact of combined BMPs on runoff reduction, opportunities for further runoff retention are identified, underscoring the ongoing need for sustainable land management practices.