Comparison of Soil Erosion Models for Application in the Humid Tropics
Keywords:
AGNPS, WEPP, SWAT, Models, Soil Erosion
Abstract
Soil erosion by water has contributed significantly to the degradation of lands and impoverishment of the lives of people, especially those living in the humid tropics. Soil erosion models coupled with geographical information systems have a major advantage in that they can represent the spatial variability of catchment characteristics. This study compared the performances of three erosion models, namely, AGNPS, WEPP and SWAT, applied on different watersheds based on model predictions and efficiency. WEPP applications were found to provide good capability to simulate sediment yield followed by SWAT as shown by the high values of ENS and R2, while AGNPS applications were satisfactory as shown by the average values of ENS and R2. Therefore, the application of these models is highly recommended in the humid tropics to reduce environmental degradation due to soil erosion.
References
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Practices on Water-Driven Soil Erosion in an Intense Agricultural Sub-
Watershed: Monitoring and Modelling. Hydrol. Process. 23: 2818 – 2857.
Apaydin, H., and F. Ozturk. (2010). Performance Evaluation of AGNPS Model on Steep Slopes by Means of GIS. BALWOIS 2010 – Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia.
Arnold, J.G. and Allen, P.M. (1996). Estimating Hydrologic Budget for Three Illinois
Watersheds. J. Hydrol. 176: 57 – 77
Ascough II, J.C., Baffaut, C., Nearing, M.A., and Flanagan, D.C. (1995). Ch.13,
Watershed model channel hydrology and erosion processes. In USDA-Water Erosion Prediction Project: Hillslope Profile and Watershed Model Documentation, NSERL Report No. 10. Flanagan, D.C. and Nearing, M.A. (eds). West Lafayette, Ind.: National Soil Erosion Research laboratory.
Baffaut C, Nearing M.A., Ascough II J.C., Liu B.Y. (1997). The WEPP watershed model: II. Sensitive analysis and discretisation on small watersheds. Transaction of the ASAE 40 (4): 935-943
Bagnold, R.A. (1977). Bedload Transport in Natural Rivers. Water Resources
Research 13 (2): 303 - 312
Beasely, D.B., Huggins. L.F. and Monke, E.J. (1980). ANSWERS: A Model for
Watershed Planning. Transaction of the ASAE 23 (4): 938 - 944
Benaman, J. and Shoemaker, C.A. (2005). An Analysis of High-Flow Sediment Event
Data for Evaluating Model Performance. Hydrol. Processes 19: 605 - 620
Bosch, D., F. Theurer, R. Bingner, G. Felton and I. Chaubey. (1998). Evaluation of the AnnAGNPS Water Quality Model . ASAE Paper No. 98-2195, St. Joseph, Michigan. p.12
Chow, V.T., Maidment, D.R., Mays, L.W. 1988. Applied Hydrology. McGraw-Hill,
New York.
Clemente, R.S., Prasher, S.O. and Barrington, S.F. (1993). PESTFADE: A New
Pesticide Fate and Transport Model: Model Development and Verification.
Transaction of the ASAE 36 (2): 357 - 367
Cronshey, R.G. and F.D. Theurer. (1998). AnnAGNPS-Non-Point Pollutant Loading Model. In Proceedings First Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, 19-23 April 1998, Las Vegas, NV, p. 1-9 to 1-16.
Donigian, A.S., Bicknell, B.R. and Imhoff, J.C. (1995). Hydrological Simulation
Program – Fortran (HSPF). Chap. 12. In: Computer Models of Watershed
Hydrology, Singh V.P (ed). Water Resources Publications: Colorado, USA:
395 - 442
Flanagan, D.C. and Nearing, M.A. (eds.)(1995). USDA-Water Erosion Prediction
Project. Hillslope Profile and Watershed Model Documentation. NSERL
Report No. 10. USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West
Lafayette, IN.
Flanagan, D.C. and Livingston, S.J. (eds.)(1995). WEPP User Summary. NSERL
Report No. 11. National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN
Foster, G.R., Flanagan, D.C., Nearing, M.A., Lane, L.J., Risse, M.L., Finkner, S.C. (1995). Ch. 11. Hillslope Erosion Component. In USDA- Water Erosion Prediction Project Hillslope profile and watershed model documentation. NSERL Report No.10. west Lafayette, ind,: USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory.
Kaur, R., Srinivasan, R., Mishra, K., Dutta, D., Prasad, D. and Basal, G. (2003).
Assessment of a SWAT Model for Soil and Water Management in India. Land
Use and Water Resources Research 3: 4.1 – 4.7.
Kirnak, H. (2002). Comparison of Erosion and Runoff Predicted by WEPP and AGNPS Models Using a Geographic Information System. Turk J. Agric. For 26(2002) 261-268.
Knisel, W.G. (1980). CREAMS: A Field Scale Model for Chemicals, Runoff and
Erosion fro Agricultural Management Systems, USDA Conservation Research
Report, Washington, D.C., USDA, No. 26
Leonard, R.A., Knisel, W.G. and Still, D.A. (1987). GLEAMS: Groundwater Loading
Effects of Agricultural Management Systems. Transactions of the ASAE 30
(5): 1403 - 1418
Liccardello, F., Zema D.A., Zimbone, S.M. and Bingner, R.L. (2007). Runoff and
Soil Erosions Evaluations by AnnAGNPS Model in a Small Mediterranean
Watershed. Transactions of the ASABE 50 (5): 1585 – 1593.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (1995). Watershed Resources Management (WRM) Model 1: Model
Description. Computers and Electronics in Agric., Elsevier, (13): 195 - 216
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (1997). Use of the AGNPS Model to Estimate Runoff, Erosion and Pollution at the Upper Nnom Watershed. Proc. of the NSAE – Sponsored 1st Regional Symposium on the Hydrology of Tropical Watersheds. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 20pp.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (2001). Comparison of Watershed Simulation Models for
Application in the Humid Tropics. Nigerian Agricultural Engineer, 2 (2):23 - 29.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (2004). Determination of Watershed BMPs for Soil and Water
Conservation Using AGNPS. Journal of Agricultural Engineering and
Technology, (12): 115 – 142
Mbajiorgu, C.C. and K.N.Ogbu (2011). Testing the WEPP Model for a Single Event Runoff and Soil Loss in Nsukka, South East Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Engineering &Technology Vol.19. (in Press).
Merritt, W.S., Letcher, R.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (2003). A Review of Erosion and
Sediment Transport Models. Environmental Modelling and Software 18: 761 –
799.
Van Liew, M.W., and J. Garbrecht. (2003). Hydrologic Simulation of the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed Using SWAT. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 39(2): 413-426.
Nash, J. E. and Sutcliffe, J. V. (1970). River Flow Forecasting Through Conceptual Models-Part I- A Discussion of Principles. Journal of Hydrology, 10 (3): 282-290.
Nearing, M.A., Foster, G.R., Lane, I.J. and Finkner, S.C. (1989). A Process-Based
Soil Erosion Model for USDA – Water Erosion Prediction Project Technology. Transactions of the ASAE 32 (5): 1587 - 1593
Neitsch, S.L., Arnold, J.G., Kiniry, J.R. and William, J.R. (2001). Soil and Water
Assessment Tool: Version 2001. Theoretical Documentation. Agricultural
Research Service, Texas
Ogbu, K.N. and C.C. Mbajiorgu (2011). Evaluation of the Impact of Land-use Change in the Ebonyi River Watershed, Southeastern Nigeria, Using SWAT. Journal of Agricultural Engineering & Technology Vol.19. (in Press).
Omani, N., Tajrishy, M and Abrishamchi, A. (2007). Modelling of a River Basin Using SWAT Model and GIS. 2nd International Conference on Managing Rivers in the 21st Century: Solutions Towards Sustainable River Basins. Riverside Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-8 June,
Pandey, A., Chowdary, V.M., Mal, B.C. and Billib, M. (2008). Runoff and Sediment
Yield Modelling From a Small Agricultural Watershed In India Using the
WEPP Model. Journal of Hydrology 348: 305 – 319
Pandey A, Chowdary V.M., Mal B.C., Billib M. (2009), Application of the WEPP model for prioritisation and evaluation of best management practises in an Indian watershed. Hydrological process 23, 2997-3005.
Phomcha, P., Wirojanagid, P., Vangpaisal, T and Thaveevouthli, T. (2011). Predicting
Sediment Discharge in an Agricultural Watershed: A Case Study of the Lam Southi Watershed, Thaniland. ScienceAsia 37: 43 – 50.
Pudasaini M, Shrestha S, and Riley S. (2004). Application of Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) to estimate soil erosion from single storm rainfall events form construction sites. In SuperSoil, 3rd Australian New Zealand soil conference, 5-9.
Rainis, R., W.R. Ismail, and N.M. Shariff (2002). Estimating Sediment Yield of a Small Catchment in a Tropical Region Using the AGNPS Model: The Waterfall River Catchment, Penang, Malaysia. Journal Environmental Hydrology. Vol. 10. (9).
Setegn, S.G., Srinivasan, R. & Dargahi, B. (2008). Hydrological Modelling in the
Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia Using SWAT Model. The Open Hydrology Journal
(2): 49-62.
Shrestha, S., M.S. Babel, A.D. Gupta, and F. Kazama (2005). Evaluation of Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source Model for a Watershed in the Siwalik Hills of Nepal. Environmental Modelling and Software. 21(7): 961-975.
Van Liew, M.W., and J. Garbrecht (2003). Hydrologic Simulation of the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed Using SWAT. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 39(2): 413-426.
William, J.R. (1995). The EPIC Model. In: Singh V.P (ed). Computer Models of
Watershed Hydrology. Water Resources Publications, Highlands Ranch, CO,
pp 909 - 1000
William, J.R., Dyke, P.T. and Jones, C.A. (1982). EPIC – A Model for Assessing the
Effect of Erosion and Soil Productivity. In: Proceedings of the Third
International Conference on State-of-the Art in Ecological Modelling.
International Society for Ecological Modelling
Wischmeier, W.H. & Smith, D.D. (1978). Predicting Rainfall Erosion Losses: A
Guide to Conservation Planning. Agriculture Handbook 282. USDA-ARS.
Xu, Z.X., Pang, J.P., Liu, C.M. & Li, J.Y. (2009). Assessment of Runoff and
Sediment Yield in the Miyun Reservoir Catchment by Using SWAT Model.
Hydrol. Process. (23): 3619-3630
Young, R.A., Onstad, C.A., Bosch, D.D. and Anderson, V.P. (1989). AGNPS – A
Non-Point Source Pollution Model for Evaluating Agricultural Watersheds. J.
Soil Water Conserv.: 44 (2): 168 - 173
Zeleke, G. (2001). Application and Adaptation of WEPP to the Traditional Farming
Systems of the Ethiopian Highlands. In: Stott, D.E., Mohtar, R.H., and
Steinhardt, G.C. (eds). Sustaining the Global Farm. 10th International Soil
Conservation Organization Meeting, Purdue University, USA, May 24-29, 1999. pp.903-912.
Practices on Water-Driven Soil Erosion in an Intense Agricultural Sub-
Watershed: Monitoring and Modelling. Hydrol. Process. 23: 2818 – 2857.
Apaydin, H., and F. Ozturk. (2010). Performance Evaluation of AGNPS Model on Steep Slopes by Means of GIS. BALWOIS 2010 – Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia.
Arnold, J.G. and Allen, P.M. (1996). Estimating Hydrologic Budget for Three Illinois
Watersheds. J. Hydrol. 176: 57 – 77
Ascough II, J.C., Baffaut, C., Nearing, M.A., and Flanagan, D.C. (1995). Ch.13,
Watershed model channel hydrology and erosion processes. In USDA-Water Erosion Prediction Project: Hillslope Profile and Watershed Model Documentation, NSERL Report No. 10. Flanagan, D.C. and Nearing, M.A. (eds). West Lafayette, Ind.: National Soil Erosion Research laboratory.
Baffaut C, Nearing M.A., Ascough II J.C., Liu B.Y. (1997). The WEPP watershed model: II. Sensitive analysis and discretisation on small watersheds. Transaction of the ASAE 40 (4): 935-943
Bagnold, R.A. (1977). Bedload Transport in Natural Rivers. Water Resources
Research 13 (2): 303 - 312
Beasely, D.B., Huggins. L.F. and Monke, E.J. (1980). ANSWERS: A Model for
Watershed Planning. Transaction of the ASAE 23 (4): 938 - 944
Benaman, J. and Shoemaker, C.A. (2005). An Analysis of High-Flow Sediment Event
Data for Evaluating Model Performance. Hydrol. Processes 19: 605 - 620
Bosch, D., F. Theurer, R. Bingner, G. Felton and I. Chaubey. (1998). Evaluation of the AnnAGNPS Water Quality Model . ASAE Paper No. 98-2195, St. Joseph, Michigan. p.12
Chow, V.T., Maidment, D.R., Mays, L.W. 1988. Applied Hydrology. McGraw-Hill,
New York.
Clemente, R.S., Prasher, S.O. and Barrington, S.F. (1993). PESTFADE: A New
Pesticide Fate and Transport Model: Model Development and Verification.
Transaction of the ASAE 36 (2): 357 - 367
Cronshey, R.G. and F.D. Theurer. (1998). AnnAGNPS-Non-Point Pollutant Loading Model. In Proceedings First Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, 19-23 April 1998, Las Vegas, NV, p. 1-9 to 1-16.
Donigian, A.S., Bicknell, B.R. and Imhoff, J.C. (1995). Hydrological Simulation
Program – Fortran (HSPF). Chap. 12. In: Computer Models of Watershed
Hydrology, Singh V.P (ed). Water Resources Publications: Colorado, USA:
395 - 442
Flanagan, D.C. and Nearing, M.A. (eds.)(1995). USDA-Water Erosion Prediction
Project. Hillslope Profile and Watershed Model Documentation. NSERL
Report No. 10. USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West
Lafayette, IN.
Flanagan, D.C. and Livingston, S.J. (eds.)(1995). WEPP User Summary. NSERL
Report No. 11. National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN
Foster, G.R., Flanagan, D.C., Nearing, M.A., Lane, L.J., Risse, M.L., Finkner, S.C. (1995). Ch. 11. Hillslope Erosion Component. In USDA- Water Erosion Prediction Project Hillslope profile and watershed model documentation. NSERL Report No.10. west Lafayette, ind,: USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory.
Kaur, R., Srinivasan, R., Mishra, K., Dutta, D., Prasad, D. and Basal, G. (2003).
Assessment of a SWAT Model for Soil and Water Management in India. Land
Use and Water Resources Research 3: 4.1 – 4.7.
Kirnak, H. (2002). Comparison of Erosion and Runoff Predicted by WEPP and AGNPS Models Using a Geographic Information System. Turk J. Agric. For 26(2002) 261-268.
Knisel, W.G. (1980). CREAMS: A Field Scale Model for Chemicals, Runoff and
Erosion fro Agricultural Management Systems, USDA Conservation Research
Report, Washington, D.C., USDA, No. 26
Leonard, R.A., Knisel, W.G. and Still, D.A. (1987). GLEAMS: Groundwater Loading
Effects of Agricultural Management Systems. Transactions of the ASAE 30
(5): 1403 - 1418
Liccardello, F., Zema D.A., Zimbone, S.M. and Bingner, R.L. (2007). Runoff and
Soil Erosions Evaluations by AnnAGNPS Model in a Small Mediterranean
Watershed. Transactions of the ASABE 50 (5): 1585 – 1593.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (1995). Watershed Resources Management (WRM) Model 1: Model
Description. Computers and Electronics in Agric., Elsevier, (13): 195 - 216
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (1997). Use of the AGNPS Model to Estimate Runoff, Erosion and Pollution at the Upper Nnom Watershed. Proc. of the NSAE – Sponsored 1st Regional Symposium on the Hydrology of Tropical Watersheds. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 20pp.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (2001). Comparison of Watershed Simulation Models for
Application in the Humid Tropics. Nigerian Agricultural Engineer, 2 (2):23 - 29.
Mbajiorgu, C.C. (2004). Determination of Watershed BMPs for Soil and Water
Conservation Using AGNPS. Journal of Agricultural Engineering and
Technology, (12): 115 – 142
Mbajiorgu, C.C. and K.N.Ogbu (2011). Testing the WEPP Model for a Single Event Runoff and Soil Loss in Nsukka, South East Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Engineering &Technology Vol.19. (in Press).
Merritt, W.S., Letcher, R.A. and Jakeman, A.J. (2003). A Review of Erosion and
Sediment Transport Models. Environmental Modelling and Software 18: 761 –
799.
Van Liew, M.W., and J. Garbrecht. (2003). Hydrologic Simulation of the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed Using SWAT. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 39(2): 413-426.
Nash, J. E. and Sutcliffe, J. V. (1970). River Flow Forecasting Through Conceptual Models-Part I- A Discussion of Principles. Journal of Hydrology, 10 (3): 282-290.
Nearing, M.A., Foster, G.R., Lane, I.J. and Finkner, S.C. (1989). A Process-Based
Soil Erosion Model for USDA – Water Erosion Prediction Project Technology. Transactions of the ASAE 32 (5): 1587 - 1593
Neitsch, S.L., Arnold, J.G., Kiniry, J.R. and William, J.R. (2001). Soil and Water
Assessment Tool: Version 2001. Theoretical Documentation. Agricultural
Research Service, Texas
Ogbu, K.N. and C.C. Mbajiorgu (2011). Evaluation of the Impact of Land-use Change in the Ebonyi River Watershed, Southeastern Nigeria, Using SWAT. Journal of Agricultural Engineering & Technology Vol.19. (in Press).
Omani, N., Tajrishy, M and Abrishamchi, A. (2007). Modelling of a River Basin Using SWAT Model and GIS. 2nd International Conference on Managing Rivers in the 21st Century: Solutions Towards Sustainable River Basins. Riverside Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 6-8 June,
Pandey, A., Chowdary, V.M., Mal, B.C. and Billib, M. (2008). Runoff and Sediment
Yield Modelling From a Small Agricultural Watershed In India Using the
WEPP Model. Journal of Hydrology 348: 305 – 319
Pandey A, Chowdary V.M., Mal B.C., Billib M. (2009), Application of the WEPP model for prioritisation and evaluation of best management practises in an Indian watershed. Hydrological process 23, 2997-3005.
Phomcha, P., Wirojanagid, P., Vangpaisal, T and Thaveevouthli, T. (2011). Predicting
Sediment Discharge in an Agricultural Watershed: A Case Study of the Lam Southi Watershed, Thaniland. ScienceAsia 37: 43 – 50.
Pudasaini M, Shrestha S, and Riley S. (2004). Application of Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) to estimate soil erosion from single storm rainfall events form construction sites. In SuperSoil, 3rd Australian New Zealand soil conference, 5-9.
Rainis, R., W.R. Ismail, and N.M. Shariff (2002). Estimating Sediment Yield of a Small Catchment in a Tropical Region Using the AGNPS Model: The Waterfall River Catchment, Penang, Malaysia. Journal Environmental Hydrology. Vol. 10. (9).
Setegn, S.G., Srinivasan, R. & Dargahi, B. (2008). Hydrological Modelling in the
Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia Using SWAT Model. The Open Hydrology Journal
(2): 49-62.
Shrestha, S., M.S. Babel, A.D. Gupta, and F. Kazama (2005). Evaluation of Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source Model for a Watershed in the Siwalik Hills of Nepal. Environmental Modelling and Software. 21(7): 961-975.
Van Liew, M.W., and J. Garbrecht (2003). Hydrologic Simulation of the Little Washita River Experimental Watershed Using SWAT. J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 39(2): 413-426.
William, J.R. (1995). The EPIC Model. In: Singh V.P (ed). Computer Models of
Watershed Hydrology. Water Resources Publications, Highlands Ranch, CO,
pp 909 - 1000
William, J.R., Dyke, P.T. and Jones, C.A. (1982). EPIC – A Model for Assessing the
Effect of Erosion and Soil Productivity. In: Proceedings of the Third
International Conference on State-of-the Art in Ecological Modelling.
International Society for Ecological Modelling
Wischmeier, W.H. & Smith, D.D. (1978). Predicting Rainfall Erosion Losses: A
Guide to Conservation Planning. Agriculture Handbook 282. USDA-ARS.
Xu, Z.X., Pang, J.P., Liu, C.M. & Li, J.Y. (2009). Assessment of Runoff and
Sediment Yield in the Miyun Reservoir Catchment by Using SWAT Model.
Hydrol. Process. (23): 3619-3630
Young, R.A., Onstad, C.A., Bosch, D.D. and Anderson, V.P. (1989). AGNPS – A
Non-Point Source Pollution Model for Evaluating Agricultural Watersheds. J.
Soil Water Conserv.: 44 (2): 168 - 173
Zeleke, G. (2001). Application and Adaptation of WEPP to the Traditional Farming
Systems of the Ethiopian Highlands. In: Stott, D.E., Mohtar, R.H., and
Steinhardt, G.C. (eds). Sustaining the Global Farm. 10th International Soil
Conservation Organization Meeting, Purdue University, USA, May 24-29, 1999. pp.903-912.
