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Modeling environmental impact in a semi-arid intensive irrigated watershed

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  • Dechmi, Farida
  • Skhiri, Ahmed
  • Isidoro, Daniel

Abstract

Improving on-field farmers’ management skills is imperative for an economically and environmentally sustainable irrigated agriculture in semi-arid areas where the quality of the irrigation return flow (IRF) is mainly affected by excessive fertilization and surplus irrigation water. The SWAT model is used worldwide for environmental impact assessment, however, previous versions were unable to simulate appropriately the hydrological processes in irrigated areas. The objectives of this study were to assess the change preformed in SWAT2018 manual irrigation algorithms and to evaluate the impact of the optimum irrigation and nitrogen management practices on crop yield, irrigation return flows and nitrate load in Del Reguero watershed (Spain) after model calibration and validation. The irrigation algorithm in the SWAT2018 source code did not include the irrigation application efficiency in the net irrigation dose calculation, which is very important in irrigated systems. The streamflow calibration and validation resulting statistics for daily and monthly streamflow indicate a “very good” model performance (NSE = 0.75–0.87). The monthly NO3-N load calibration and validation results indicated ‘‘very good’’ (NSE = 0.83 and PBIAS = 4.7%) and ‘‘satisfactory’ ’to ‘‘very good’’ (NSE = 0.64 and PBIAS = 9.36%) performance, respectively. Scenarios assessment showed that combined recommended N fertilization and optimum irrigation were advantageous both for the environment and farmers’ benefits rather than individual scenarios for reaching maximum reduction in NO3-N loads (52%) with better net incomes for farmers (27% yield increase and 26% less N fertilizers inputs), and irrigation water saving (21%) which leads to savings in energy costs. On the one hand, this study allowed for building a more reliable and suitable SWAT model for use in intensive irrigation watersheds, while on the other hand, it supports and reinforces previous results performed in other pressurized irrigated areas for better farmer acceptance and adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Dechmi, Farida & Skhiri, Ahmed & Isidoro, Daniel, 2021. "Modeling environmental impact in a semi-arid intensive irrigated watershed," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:256:y:2021:i:c:s0378377421003917
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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