Abstract

In this study, the simulations generated by two of the most widely used hydrological basin-scale models, theAnnualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), werecompared in a Mediterranean watershed, the Carapelle (Apulia, Southern Italy). Input data requirements, timeand efforts needed for input preparation, strength and weakness points of each model, ease of use and limitationswere evaluated in order to give information to users. Models were calibrated and validated at monthly time scalefor hydrology and sediment load using a four year period of observations (streamflow and suspended sedimentconcentrations). In the driest year, the specific sediment load measured at the outlet was 0.89 t ha-1 yr-1, whilethe simulated values were 0.83 t ha-1 yr-1 and 1.99 t ha-1 yr-1 for SWAT and AnnAGNPS, respectively. In thewettest year, the specific measured sediment load was 7.45 t ha-1 yr-1, and the simulated values were8.27 t ha-1 yr-1 and 6.23 t ha-1 yr-1 for SWAT and AnnAGNPS, respectively. Both models showed from fair toa very good correlation between observed and simulated streamflow and satisfactory for sediment load. Resultsshowed that most of the basin is under moderate (1.4-10 t ha-1 yr-1) and high-risk erosion (> 10 t ha-1 yr-1).The sediment yield predicted by the SWAT and AnnAGNPS models were compared with estimates of soil erosionsimulated by models for Europe (PESERA and RUSLE2015). The average gross erosion estimated by theRUSLE2015 model (12.5 t ha-1 yr-1) resulted comparable with the average specific sediment yield estimated bySWAT (8.8 t ha-1 yr-1) and AnnAGNPS (5.6 t ha-1 yr-1), while it was found that the average soil erosionestimated by PESERA is lower than the other estimates (1.2 t ha-1 yr-1).

Autore Pugliese

• De Girolamo Anna Maria

Tutti gli autori

• Abdelwahab O.M.M.; Ricci G.F.; De Girolamo A.M.; Gentile F.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Environmental research

Anno di pubblicazione

2018

ISSN

0013-9351

ISBN

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Numero di citazioni Wos

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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