SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Development and application of SWAT to landscapes with tiles and potholes 
Authors:Du, B., J. G. Arnold, A. Saleh and D. B. Jaynes 
Year:2005 
Journal:Transactions of the ASAE 
Volume (Issue):48(3) 
Pages:1121-1133 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.13031/2013.18522 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT-M & SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic only 
Primary Application Category:tile drainage effects and/or processes 
Secondary Application Category:depressional (pothole, wetland or pond) effects and/or processes 
Watershed Description:51.3 km^2 Walnut Creek, including subwatersheds/fields 310, 330, & 210 (used for calibration and validation), located in central Iowa, U.S. 
Calibration Summary:SWAT-M daily/monthly E values (1992-99): 310 = .55/.88 330 = .51/.84 210 = -.23/.67 -------------------------SWAT2000 daily/monthly E values (1992-99): 310 = .39/.36 330 = .47/.72 210 = -.15/.33 
Validation Summary:SWAT-M daily/monthly E values (1992-99): 310 = .49?/.82 330 = -.11/.72 210 = -.12/.70 -------------------------SWAT2000 daily/monthly E values (1992-99): 310 = .35/.13 330 = .32/.56 210 = -.16/-.42 
General Comments:A modified SWAT (SWAT-M) is described with an improved tile flow and pothole simulation routine, that simulated water table depth as a function of an impermeable layer. The results show that SWAT-M performed better than SWAT2000. The new routine has been incorporated into SWAT2005. Extensive graphical comparisons between simulated and measured data are provided. 
Abstract:SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) is a watershed model that has been incorporated into USEPA’s modeling framework called BASINS used for total maximum daily load (TMDL) analysis. It is thus important that SWAT realistically simulate tile flow and pothole landscapes that are common in much of the Corn Belt and Great Lakes states. In this study, SWAT was modified to simulate water table dynamics and linked with a simple tile flow equation. Algorithms were also added to SWAT to include simulation of potholes (closed depressions), surface tile inlets, and aeration stress on plants. Flow interaction between HRUs was introduced in order to simulate pothole water. The modified SWAT model (SWAT-M) was evaluated using eight years of measured flow data from Walnut Creek watershed (WCW), an intensively tile-drained watershed in central Iowa. The model was calibrated during the period of 1992 to 1995 and validated during the period of 1996 to 1999. In addition, comparisons between the enhanced version (SWAT-M) and older version (SWAT2000) of SWAT were conducted. For assessing overall performance of the SWAT models, predictions were compared to data measured at stream sites approximately at the midpoint of the watershed (site 310) and at the outlet (site 330). Nash-Sutcliffe E values for the simulated monthly flows during the calibration/validation periods were 0.88/0.82 and 0.84/0.72 at sites 310 and 330, respectively. The relative mean errors (RME) of the simulated monthly flows during the calibration/validation periods were -2% / -1% and -18% / 10%, respectively, for the same two sites. These statistical values indicate that SWAT-M estimated both pattern and amount of the monthly flows reasonably well for the large flat landscape of WCW containing tile drains and potholes. SWAT-M needs to improve in its daily prediction because of its lower E values (-0.11 to 0.55), compared to the monthly results. In applying the model to a third site (site 210) that was predominantly influenced by tile drainage, it was concluded that the pattern and amount of simulated monthly subsurface flows (E values of 0.61 and 0.70 and RME values of 10% and -9% for the calibration and validation periods, respectively) were relatively close to the measured values. Nevertheless, SWAT-M simulation of daily subsurface flows was less accurate than monthly results. In general, the pattern and amount of monthly flow and subsurface tile drainage predicted by SWAT-M has been greatly improved as compared to SWAT2000. 
Language:English 
Keywords: