Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers
In the present study, the amount of nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural lands into the Zanjanrood River in Iran was simulated using the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The measured average monthly discharges at the Sarcham station were used to calibrate and validate the S...
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| Format: | Article |
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Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST)
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Advances in Environmental Technology |
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| Online Access: | https://aet.irost.ir/article_983_97fd295b3dd57235404189265a49f8e4.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797789975759028224 |
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| author | Farhad Misaghi Mohsen Nasrabadi Maryam Nouri |
| author_facet | Farhad Misaghi Mohsen Nasrabadi Maryam Nouri |
| author_sort | Farhad Misaghi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, the amount of nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural lands into the Zanjanrood River in Iran was simulated using the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The measured average monthly discharges at the Sarcham station were used to calibrate and validate the SWAT model, and the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP) model was applied to perform the uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. Three scenarios for the irrigation methods and five for the fertilizer rates were defined. The p-factor and r-factor were used for the uncertainty analysis, and two statistical indices of the coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NS) were utilized in the validation model. For the calibration of the monthly runoff at the basin’s outlet, the coefficients of r-factor, p-factor, R2, and NS were obtained as 0.27, 0.11, 0.83, and 0.53, respectively. The results showed that by increasing the pressurized irrigation areas, the nitrate and phosphate pollutions in the river basin were not significantly affected. With regard to fertilizer rates, by reducing the consumption of urea and phosphate fertilizers up to 50%, the amount of nitrate and phosphate leaching into the Zanjanrood River was reduced up to 16.7% and 19.2%, respectively. On the other hand, an increase of 50% in fertilizer application increased nitrate and phosphate leaching into the river by 17.2% and 17.7%, respectively. In addition, by reducing the fertilization rate and preventing unnecessary fertilization by farmers, the pollution of water resources can be largely prevented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:58:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-430c6faa770c4c66a6228151147bfef2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2476-6674 2476-4779 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:58:12Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Environmental Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-430c6faa770c4c66a6228151147bfef22023-07-02T08:53:18ZengIranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST)Advances in Environmental Technology2476-66742476-47792020-01-016111710.22104/aet.2020.4298.1214983Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to RiversFarhad Misaghi0Mohsen Nasrabadi1Maryam Nouri2Department of Water Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.Department of Water Science and Engineering, Arak University, Arak, IranDepartment of Water Engineering, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.In the present study, the amount of nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural lands into the Zanjanrood River in Iran was simulated using the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The measured average monthly discharges at the Sarcham station were used to calibrate and validate the SWAT model, and the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP) model was applied to perform the uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. Three scenarios for the irrigation methods and five for the fertilizer rates were defined. The p-factor and r-factor were used for the uncertainty analysis, and two statistical indices of the coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NS) were utilized in the validation model. For the calibration of the monthly runoff at the basin’s outlet, the coefficients of r-factor, p-factor, R2, and NS were obtained as 0.27, 0.11, 0.83, and 0.53, respectively. The results showed that by increasing the pressurized irrigation areas, the nitrate and phosphate pollutions in the river basin were not significantly affected. With regard to fertilizer rates, by reducing the consumption of urea and phosphate fertilizers up to 50%, the amount of nitrate and phosphate leaching into the Zanjanrood River was reduced up to 16.7% and 19.2%, respectively. On the other hand, an increase of 50% in fertilizer application increased nitrate and phosphate leaching into the river by 17.2% and 17.7%, respectively. In addition, by reducing the fertilization rate and preventing unnecessary fertilization by farmers, the pollution of water resources can be largely prevented.https://aet.irost.ir/article_983_97fd295b3dd57235404189265a49f8e4.pdfnitratephosphatefertilizerswat model |
| spellingShingle | Farhad Misaghi Mohsen Nasrabadi Maryam Nouri Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers Advances in Environmental Technology nitrate phosphate fertilizer swat model |
| title | Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers |
| title_full | Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers |
| title_fullStr | Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers |
| title_short | Application of SWAT Model to Simulate Nitrate and Phosphate Leaching from Agricultural Lands to Rivers |
| title_sort | application of swat model to simulate nitrate and phosphate leaching from agricultural lands to rivers |
| topic | nitrate phosphate fertilizer swat model |
| url | https://aet.irost.ir/article_983_97fd295b3dd57235404189265a49f8e4.pdf |
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