| Title: | Rice intensification in a changing environment: Impact of water availability in inland valley landscapes in Benin |
| Authors: | Danvi, A., S. Giertz, S.J. Zwart and B. Diekkrüger |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Journal: | Water |
| Volume (Issue): | 10(1) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 74 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/w10010074 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | climate change and land use change |
| Secondary Application Category: | rice paddy dynamics and/or production |
| Watershed Description: | 5.5 km^2 Kounga, Tossahou and Kpandouga drainage areas, located in the Commune of Djougou in west central Benin. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | This study assesses the impact of climate change on hydrological processes under rice
intensification in three headwater inland valley watersheds characterized by different land conditions.
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool was used to simulate the combined impacts of two land
use scenarios defined as converting 25% and 75% of lowland savannah into rice cultivation, and
two climate scenarios (A1B and B1) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special
Report on Emissions Scenarios. The simulations were performed based on the traditional and the
rainfed-bunded rice cultivation systems and analyzed up to the year 2049 with a special focus on
the period of 2030–2049. Compared to land use, climate change impact on hydrological processes
was overwhelming at all watersheds. The watersheds with a high portion of cultivated areas are
more sensitive to changes in climate resulting in a decrease of water yield of up to 50% (145 mm).
Bunded fields cause a rise in surface runoff projected to be up to 28% (18 mm) in their lowlands,
while processes were insignificantly affected at the vegetation dominated-watershed. Analyzing
three watersheds instead of one as is usually done provides further insight into the natural variability
and therefore gives more evidence of possible future processes and management strategies. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | lowland rice; agricultural intensification; water resources; SWAT model |