Abstract
The present study was conducted to test the efficiency and applicability of the EROSION-3D (Jürgen Schmidt, Berlin, Germany) model in the lower Shivaliks of Northwest India. Two similar micro-watersheds in terms of soil characteristics and land use were selected for calibration and validation of the model. The model was calibrated using the data from seven rainstorms of micro-watershed A and validated using data from 11 rainstorms in micro-watershed B. After calibration, the overall statistical parameters, namely RMSE (0.44 mm), percent error (4.92), correlation coefficient (0.94) and model efficiency (88%), clearly indicate that the model simulated runoff quite well in conditions prevalent in Shivaliks. For sediment yield, the overall statistical parameters, namely RMSE (0.365 Mg ha−1), percent error (12.71), correlation coefficient (0.97) and model efficiency (88.32%), clearly indicate that the model simulated sediment yield also quite well. During the validation process, for runoff, RMSE (1.72 mm), percent error (19.19), correlation coefficient (0.94), and model efficiency (81.25%) and, for sediment yield, RMSE (0.19 Mg ha−1), percent error (17.16), correlation coefficient (0.97), and model efficiency (74.48%) clearly demonstrate the reasonable accuracy of the EROSION-3D model to predict runoff and soil loss from micro-watersheds located in Shivaliks of Northwest India. Therefore, the EROSION-3D may be used as decision support system for soil conservation management decisions in the lower Shivaliks of India.
Highlights
Land degradation is the decline in the productivity potential of the soil [1]
Quantification of runoff and sediment yield is pre-requisite for implementation of conservation measures at the watershed scale
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of the EROSION-3D model to simulate runoff and sediment yield from micro-watersheds located in the Shivalik region of Northwest India
Summary
Land degradation is the decline in the productivity potential of the soil [1]. Land degradation results in soil compaction, salinization, acidification and soil loss from wind and water erosion [2]. The Shivalik foothills are considered as the most fragile and vulnerable ecosystem in the Himalayan region and are facing the most dangerous effects of climate change [15]. Heavy rainstorms cause significant erosion and peak flash flows [16] This region is characterized by erratic behavior of rainfall, undulating topography, steep slopes and lack of vegetation which results in high soil erosion [17,18]. Sheet and rill erosion is the most common type of erosion prevalent in the agricultural fields while gully erosion is predominantly found at higher elevations [15] The agriculture in this region is mostly rainfed, as the crop security depends entirely on the monsoon rainfall
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