SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Simulation of sediment yield in a Semi-Arid River basin under changing land use: An integrated approach of hydrologic modelling and principal component analysis 
Authors:Gyamfi, C., J.M. Ndambuki and R. W. Salim 
Year:2016 
Journal:Sustainability 
Volume (Issue):8(11) 
Pages: 
Article ID:1133 
DOI:10.3390/su8111133 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic and pollutant 
Primary Application Category:land use change assessment 
Secondary Application Category:sediment loss and transport 
Watershed Description:50,020 km^2 Upper Olifants River, located in northeast South Africa. 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:Intensified human activities over the past decades have culminated in the prevalence of dire environmental consequences of sediment yield resulting mainly from land use changes. Understanding the role that land use changes play in the dynamics of sediment yield would greatly enhance decision-making processes related to land use and water resources management. In this study, we investigated the impacts of land use and cover changes on sediment yield dynamics through an integrated approach of hydrologic modelling and principal component analysis (PCA). A three-phase land use scenario (2000, 2007 and 2013) employing the “fix-changing” method was used to simulate the sediment yield of the Olifants Basin. Contributions in the changes in individual land uses to sediment yield were assessed using the component and pattern matrixes of PCA. Our results indicate that sediment yield dynamics in the study area is significantly attributed to the changes in agriculture, urban and forested lands. Changes in agriculture and urban lands were directly proportional to sediment yield dynamics of the Olifants Basin. On the contrary, forested areas had a negative relationship with sediment yield indicating less sediment yield from these areas. The output of this research work provides a simplistic approach of evaluating the impacts of land use changes on sediment yield. The tools and methods used are relevant for policy directions on land and water resources planning and management. 
Language:English 
Keywords:land use-land cover change (LULCC); Olifants Basin; principal component analysis; sediment yield; SWAT