Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source Model Research Articles

Simulation of Runoff and Sediment Yield Using AnnAGNPS Model at Dawe Watershed, Eastern Hararghe, Ethiopia

The high erosion rates are mainly affecting the developing countries due to intensive cultivation, deforestation; extreme climate hazard, sediment transport and loss of agricultural nutrients were caused by unwise land use practices, intensive cultivation and improper management. Soil conservation is the only known way to protect the productive land. In this study a physically based watershed model, Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollution model was applied to the Dawe River watershed for simulation of the runoff and sediment yield. The objectives were to estimate potential runoff and sediment yield and to recommend and design appropriate soil and water conservation measures on a sub watershed basis in Dawe watershed of east hararghe zone. Sensitivity analysis, model calibration and validation were also performed. Four highly sensitive parameters were identified and of which CN was the most sensitive one. For model calibration, model efficiencies of 0.742, -231.081 and 0.828 were observed for surface runoff, peak runoff rate, and sediment yield, respectively. The corresponding determination of coefficients was 0.825, 0.1669 and 0.848, respectively. Runoff and sediment yield were well predicted but, peak runoff rate was over predicted. Validation results produced model efficiencies NSE of 0.769, -73.801 and 0.718 for surface runoff, peak runoff rate and sediment yield, respectively. With coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9215, 0.235 and 0.764 for runoff, peak runoff rate and sediment yield, respectively. Surface runoff and sediment yield simulation were well in the validation stage and peak runoff rate shows the same trend as calibration. Dawe watershed was divided in thirteen sub-watersheds. Runoff and sediment yield for each sub-watershed were quantified. Average annual watershed runoff, average annual soil loss and total annual sediment outflow from Dawe watershed was 194.48mm, 22.467 tons/ha/yr and 354215 tons/yr, respectively. In Dawe watershed, gully, rill and inter-rill erosions were identified as major problems. Thus, check dam and bench terrace designed and vegetative waterway are recommended for intensively cultivated crop land of Dawe watershed.

The reduction effects of riparian reforestation on runoff and nutrient export based on AnnAGNPS model in a small typical watershed, China.

The continuous deterioration of the aquatic environment in rivers and streams is increasingly causing social and political tensions. To alleviate aquatic environmental problems, especially for the nonpoint source pollution, establishment of riparian forest buffers has been demonstrated as an effective control measure. However, few comprehensive studies of the reduction effects of riparian reforestation on the aquatic environment have been performed, particularly in identifying the suitable widths of reforestation projects. In this paper, the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model was used to simulate the reduction effects of riparian reforestation on runoff and nutrient loads in Wucun watershed, China. The results showed that 20-m, 40-m, and 60-m widths of riparian buffer reforestation had significant effects on the yearly loads of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), with reduced rates of 23.21 to 56.2% and 18.16 to 52.14%, respectively. The reduction effect on annual runoff varied from 2.8 to 5.4%. Furthermore, the reduction effect of nutrients performed best during the transition period, while the best runoff reduction was found during the dry period. These distinct reductions indicated that the implementation of riparian forest buffers was capable of reducing the risk and frequency of flooding and eutrophication, especially during the wet and transition periods. Additionally, the 20-m width of riparian buffer reforestation achieved the highest reduction efficiency for runoff, and the 40-m width was the most suitable reforested riparian buffer width for TN and TP. Therefore, 40m may be the optimum buffer width for the implementation of riparian reforestation in the Wucun watershed. These research results provided scientific information on selecting the optimum buffer width for aquatic environmental regulators and managers as the reduction effects of different widths of riparian buffers on runoff and nutrients were different when considering buffer reforestation.

Evaluation of Alternative Management Practices With the AnnAGNPS Model in the Carapelle Watershed

AbstractThe Annualized Agricultural Non-point Source (AnnAGNPS) model can be used to analyze the effects of management practices on sediment loads in agricultural watersheds. The study was performed in a 506 km2 Mediterranean watershed located in Apulia, Southern Italy, planted with mostly winter wh

Effect of land‐use changes on nonpoint source pollution in the Xizhi River watershed, Guangdong, China

AbstractThe Annualized Agricultural Non‐point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollution model has been widely used to assess and predict runoff, soil erosion, sediment and nutrient loading with a geographic information system. This article presents a case study of the effect of land‐use changes on nonpoint source (NPS) pollution using the AnnAGNPS model in the Xizhi River watershed, eastern Pearl River Delta of Guangdong province, China. The land‐use changes in the Xizhi River watershed between 1998 and 2003 were examined using the multitemporal remote sensing data. The runoff, soil erosion, sediment transport and nutrient loading 1998 and 2003 were assessed using AnnAGNPS. The effects of land‐use changes on NPS were studied by comparing the simulation results of each year. Our results showed that (i) the NPS loadings increased when forest and grass land converted into paddy, orchard and farmland land, and population size and gross domestic product size as well as the usage amounts of fertilizer and pesticide in the entire watershed were firmly correlated with the NPS loadings; (ii) the land‐use change during fast urbanization in particular when other land types were converted into the development land and buildup land led to increasing of NPS pollution; and (iii) urban land expansion showed more important effects on total organic carbon (TOC) loading compared with nitrogen and phosphorus loadings. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessing the Long Term Impact of Phosphorus Fertilization on Phosphorus Loadings Using AnnAGNPS

High phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields has been an environmental concern because of potential water quality problems in streams and lakes. To better understand the process of P loss and evaluate the effects of different phosphorus fertilization rates on phosphorus losses, the USDA Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollutant loading model was applied to the Ohio Upper Auglaize watershed, located in the southern portion of the Maumee River Basin. In this study, the AnnAGNPS model was calibrated using USGS monitored data; and then the effects of different phosphorus fertilization rates on phosphorus loadings were assessed. It was found that P loadings increase as fertilization rate increases, and long term higher P application would lead to much higher P loadings to the watershed outlet. The P loadings to the watershed outlet have a dramatic change after some time with higher P application rate. This dramatic change of P loading to the watershed outlet indicates that a “critical point” may exist in the soil at which soil P loss to water changes dramatically. Simulations with different initial soil P contents showed that the higher the initial soil P content is, the less time it takes to reach the “critical point” where P loadings to the watershed outlet increases dramatically. More research needs to be done to understand the processes involved in the transfer of P between the various stable, active and labile states in the soil to ensure that the model simulations are accurate. This finding may be useful in setting up future P application and management guidelines.

Assessment of Subsurface Drainage Management Practices to Reduce Nitrogen Loadings Using AnnAGNPS

The goal of the Future Midwest Landscape project is to quantify current and future landscape services across the Midwest region and examine changes expected to occur as a result of two alternative drivers of future change: the growing demand for biofuels; and hypothetical increases in incentives for the use of agricultural conservation practices to mitigate the adverse impact caused by the growing demand for biofuels. Nitrogen losses to surface waters are of great concern on both national and regional scales, and nitrogen losses from drained cropland in the Midwest have been identified as one of the major sources of N in streams. With the growing demand for biofuels and potentially increased corn production, measures are needed to allow the continued high agricultural productivity of naturally poorly drained soils in the Midwest while reducing N losses to surface waters. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the long-term effects of drainage system management on reducing N losses. To achieve the overall objective of this study, the USDA Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) pollutant loading model was applied to the Ohio Upper Auglaize watershed located in the southern portion of the Maumee River Basin. In this study, AnnAGNPS model was calibrated using USGS monitored data; and then the effects of various subsurface drainage management practices on nitrogen loadings were assessed. Wider drain spacings and shallower depths to drain can be used to reduce nitrogen loadings. Nitrogen loading was reduced by 35% by changing drain spacing from 12 to 15 m (40 to 50 ft); and 15% nitrogen was reduced by changing the drain depth from 1.2 to 1.1 m (48 to 42 in.) and an additional 20% was reduced by changing the drain depth from 1.1 to 0.9 m (42 to 36 in.). In addition, nitrogen loadings could be significantly reduced by plugging subsurface drains from 1 November to 1 April of each year. About 64% nitrogen was reduced by completely controlling subsurface drainages for a drainage system with drain space of 12 m (40 ft) and drain depth of 1.2 m (48 in.).