SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Application of export coefficient model and QUAL2K for water environmental management in a rural watershed 
Authors:Xin, Z., L. Ye and C. Zhang 
Year:2019 
Journal:Sustainability 
Volume (Issue):11(21) 
Pages: 
Article ID:6022 
DOI:10.3390/su11216022 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic only 
Primary Application Category:hydrologic assessment 
Secondary Application Category:none 
Watershed Description:229 km^2 Dengsha River, located in the Dalian City area in the southeast part of Liaoning Province in northeast China. 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments:The authors state that "Headwater flows and tributary inflows were generated by a SWAT model developed in the same region (unpublished data)." No other discussion of SWAT application methods or results are provided in the study. 
Abstract:Water quality deterioration caused by excessive nutrient discharge from various point and non-point sources are a global challenge. Understanding the pollution sources and their respective contribution is the prerequisite for environmental planning, management and restoration. In this study, the influence of complex pollution sources on the water quality of the Dengsha River watershed in Dalian, China, was investigated. The export coefficient method was coupled with the QUAL2K water quality model to estimate the loads of ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and total phosphorus (TP) from different sources, and to explore their respective contributions. Results indicated that animal feedlot and crop production were major sources for NH4-N load, and crop production, soil erosion and animal feedlot are the largest three sources of TP load with an annual total contribution of 98.4%. The pollutant load exhibited an intra-annual variation mainly due to the seasonality of rainfall and anthropogenic agricultural activities. The overall waste assimilation capacity (WAC) is overloaded and suggestions for water pollution control and treatment regarding each pollution source were proposed. This study addressed a new application of QUAL2K model coupled with the export coefficient model for watershed managers towards a sustainable water environmental management, and can therefore be a reference example for other small and medium-sized rural watersheds. 
Language:English 
Keywords:China; Export coefficient model; QUAL2K; Water environment governance; Water quality deterioration