SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:Modelling hydrologic processes and NPS pollution in a small watershed in subhumid subtropics using SWAT 
Authors:Mishra, A. and S. Kar 
Year:2012 
Journal:Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 
Volume (Issue):17(3) 
Pages:445–454 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0000458 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic and pollutant 
Primary Application Category:pollutant cycling/loss and transport 
Secondary Application Category:hydrologic assessment 
Watershed Description:16.95 km^2 Banha in Jharkhand, in northeast India 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments: 
Abstract:SWAT model has been calibrated and validated to predict stream flow, and transport of sediment and non-point source (NPS) pollutants to the downstream water resources from a small (1695 ha) watershed in sub-humid subtropics, that receives variable monsoon rains. Observed rainfall, temperature, stream flow and sediment yield data for three years have been utilized to test the model prediction capability of daily stream flow and sediment yield during the monsoon months from June to October. Because of the variability of monsoon rains, the model has been calibrated for a normal rainfall year (M-SD < RF < M+SD and RF = 1.2*M) and then validated for a relatively dry (RF < M-SD) and a medium rainfall year (RF > M-SD and RF < 0.8M). The results reveal that calibrated model for the normal rainfall year can be used successfully for predicting hydrologic processes and NPS pollution for a relatively dry rainfall year, whereas, for the medium rainfall year the model prediction shows more deviations from the measured values. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies in dry and medium rainfall years are respectively 0.70 and 0.62 for daily stream flow and 0.73 and 0.69 for daily sediment yield. NPS pollutants simulation results indicate that calibrated SWAT model can be used in estimating hydrologic responses related to water quality problems of watersheds situated in monsoon regions where the nature of rainfall has shown varying characteristics every year. The results of the study have implications of watershed management to reduce the sediment and NPS pollutants load in to downstream water bodies. 
Language:English 
Keywords:Modelling, SWAT, runoff, sediment yield, non-point source, pollutants, monsoon rains