Determination of Critical Source Areas for Sediment Loss: Sarrath River Basin, Tunisia
The risk of water erosion is one of the main
environmental concerns in the southern Mediterranean regions. Thus,
quantification of soil loss is an important issue for soil and water
conservation managers. The objective of this paper is to examine the
applicability of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model
in The Sarrath river catchment, North of Tunisia, and to identify the
most vulnerable areas in order to help manager implement an
effective management program. The spatial analysis of the results
shows that 7 % of the catchment experiences very high erosion risk,
in need for suitable conservation measures to be adopted on a priority
basis. The spatial distribution of erosion risk classes estimated 3%
high, 5,4% tolerable, and 84,6% low. Among the 27 delineated subcatchments
only 4 sub-catchments are found to be under high and
very high soil loss group, two sub-catchments fell under moderate
soil loss group, whereas other sub-catchments are under low soil loss
group.
[1] O. Terranova, L. Antronico, R. Coscarelli, P. Iaquinta, "Soil erosion risk
scenarios in the Mediterranean environment using RUSLE and GIS: An
application model for Calabria (southern Italy)," Geomorphol, vol.
112, pp. 228-245, 2009.
[2] DG/ACTA, Stratégie nationale pour la conservation des eaux et des
sols, Publication de la Direction de la Conservation des Eaux et des Sols.
Ministère de l-Agriculture et des Ressources Hydrauliques. République
Tunisienne, 1993.
[3] W. S. Merritt, R. A. Letcher, A. J. Jakeman, "A review of erosion and
sediment transport models," Environ Modell Softw, vol. 18, pp. 761-799,
2003.
[4] A. Mishra, S. Kar, V.P Singh, "Determination of runoff and sediment
yield from a small watershed in sub-humid subtropics using the HSPF
model," Hydrol Process, vol. 21, pp. 3035-3045, 2007.
[5] K. C. Abbaspour et al, "Modeling hydrology and water quality in the
pre-alpine/alpine Thur watershed using SWAT," J Hydrol, vol. 333, pp.
413-430, 2007.
[6] Y. Zhang, J. Xia, T. Liang, Q. Shao, "Impact of water projects on river
flow regimes and water quality in Huai River basin," Water Resour
Manage, vol. 24, pp. 889-908, 2010.
[7] Z. Kliment, J. Kadlec, J. Langhammer J, "Evaluation of suspended load
changes using AnnAGNPS and SWAT semi-empirical erosion models,"
Catena, vol. 73, pp. 286-299, 2008.
[8] W. Ouyang, F. Hao, A. K. Skidmore, A. G. Toxopeus, "Soil erosion and
sediment yield and their relationships with vegetation cover in upper
stream of the Yellow River," Sci. Total Environ, vol. 409, pp. 396-403,
2010.
[9] F. Bouraoui, S. Benabdallah, A. Jrad, G. Bidoglio G, "Application of the
SWAT model on the Medjerda river basin (Tunisia)," Phys Chem Earth,
vol. 30, pp. 497-507, 2005.
[10] J. G. Arnold, R. Srinivasan, R. S. Muttiah, J. R. Williams, "Large area
hydrologic modeling and assessment. Part I: Model development," J Am
Water Resour Assoc, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 73-89, 1998.
[11] R. Srinivasan, S. Huisman, L. Breuer, European SWAT summer school
2004 (User's manuel). Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resources
Management Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Belgium, 2004.
[12] S. L. Neitsch, J. G. Arnold, J. R. Kiniry, R. Srinivasan, J. R. Williams,
Soil and Water Assessment Tool, Theoretical documentation version
2000. Grassland, Soil and Water Research Service, Temple, Texas,
2002.
[13] CH. B. Priestley, R. J. Taylor, "On the assessment of surface heat flux
and evapotranspiration using large scale parameters," Mon. Weather
Rev., vol. 100, no. 2, pp. 81-92, 1972.
[14] J. L. Monteith, Evaporation and the environment. The state and
movement of water in living organisms. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 1965, pp. 205-234.
[15] G. H. Hargreaves, Z. A. Samani ZA, "Reference Crop
Evapotranspiration from Temperature," Appl Eng in Agr, vol. 1, no. 2,
pp. 96-99, 1985.
[16] J. R. Williams, H. D. Berndt, "Sediment yield prediction based on
watershed hydrology," Trans ASAE, vol. 20, pp. 1100-1104, 1977.
[17] K. Bongartz, "Applying different spatial distribution and modeling
concepts in three nested mesoscale catchments of Germany," Phys Chem
Earth, vol. 28, pp. 1343-1349, 2003.
[18] W. H. Wischmeier, D. D. Smith, Predicting rainfall erosion losses: a
guide to conservation planning. USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 537,
Washington, DC, 1978.
[19] J M. Masson, "L-érosion des sols par l-eau en climat Méditerranéen.
Méthodes expérimentales pour l-étude des quantités érodées ├á l-échelle
du champ," LHBl, vol. 8, pp. 673-679, 1972.
[20] EEA, Environment in the European Union at the Turn of the Century.
European Environmental Agency, 1999.
[21] M. P. Tripathi, R. K. Panda, N. S. Raghuwanshi, "Identification and
prioritization of critical sub-watersheds for soil conservation
management using the SWAT model," Biosyst Eng, vol. 85, no. 3, pp.
365-379, 2003.
[22] A. Vrieling, G. Sterk, O. Vigiak, "Spatial evaluation of soil erosion risk
in the west Usambara mountains, Tanzania," Land Degrad Develop, vol.
17, pp. 301-319, 2006.
[23] W. Bewket, E. Teferi, "Assessment of soil erosion hazard and
prioritization for treatment at the watershed level: Case study in the
Chemoga watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Land Degrad Develop,
vol. 20, pp. 609-622, 2009.
[24] M. A. Nearing et al, "Modeling response of soil erosion and runoff to
changes in precipitation and cover," Catena, vol. 61, pp. 131-154, 2005.
[1] O. Terranova, L. Antronico, R. Coscarelli, P. Iaquinta, "Soil erosion risk
scenarios in the Mediterranean environment using RUSLE and GIS: An
application model for Calabria (southern Italy)," Geomorphol, vol.
112, pp. 228-245, 2009.
[2] DG/ACTA, Stratégie nationale pour la conservation des eaux et des
sols, Publication de la Direction de la Conservation des Eaux et des Sols.
Ministère de l-Agriculture et des Ressources Hydrauliques. République
Tunisienne, 1993.
[3] W. S. Merritt, R. A. Letcher, A. J. Jakeman, "A review of erosion and
sediment transport models," Environ Modell Softw, vol. 18, pp. 761-799,
2003.
[4] A. Mishra, S. Kar, V.P Singh, "Determination of runoff and sediment
yield from a small watershed in sub-humid subtropics using the HSPF
model," Hydrol Process, vol. 21, pp. 3035-3045, 2007.
[5] K. C. Abbaspour et al, "Modeling hydrology and water quality in the
pre-alpine/alpine Thur watershed using SWAT," J Hydrol, vol. 333, pp.
413-430, 2007.
[6] Y. Zhang, J. Xia, T. Liang, Q. Shao, "Impact of water projects on river
flow regimes and water quality in Huai River basin," Water Resour
Manage, vol. 24, pp. 889-908, 2010.
[7] Z. Kliment, J. Kadlec, J. Langhammer J, "Evaluation of suspended load
changes using AnnAGNPS and SWAT semi-empirical erosion models,"
Catena, vol. 73, pp. 286-299, 2008.
[8] W. Ouyang, F. Hao, A. K. Skidmore, A. G. Toxopeus, "Soil erosion and
sediment yield and their relationships with vegetation cover in upper
stream of the Yellow River," Sci. Total Environ, vol. 409, pp. 396-403,
2010.
[9] F. Bouraoui, S. Benabdallah, A. Jrad, G. Bidoglio G, "Application of the
SWAT model on the Medjerda river basin (Tunisia)," Phys Chem Earth,
vol. 30, pp. 497-507, 2005.
[10] J. G. Arnold, R. Srinivasan, R. S. Muttiah, J. R. Williams, "Large area
hydrologic modeling and assessment. Part I: Model development," J Am
Water Resour Assoc, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 73-89, 1998.
[11] R. Srinivasan, S. Huisman, L. Breuer, European SWAT summer school
2004 (User's manuel). Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resources
Management Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Belgium, 2004.
[12] S. L. Neitsch, J. G. Arnold, J. R. Kiniry, R. Srinivasan, J. R. Williams,
Soil and Water Assessment Tool, Theoretical documentation version
2000. Grassland, Soil and Water Research Service, Temple, Texas,
2002.
[13] CH. B. Priestley, R. J. Taylor, "On the assessment of surface heat flux
and evapotranspiration using large scale parameters," Mon. Weather
Rev., vol. 100, no. 2, pp. 81-92, 1972.
[14] J. L. Monteith, Evaporation and the environment. The state and
movement of water in living organisms. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 1965, pp. 205-234.
[15] G. H. Hargreaves, Z. A. Samani ZA, "Reference Crop
Evapotranspiration from Temperature," Appl Eng in Agr, vol. 1, no. 2,
pp. 96-99, 1985.
[16] J. R. Williams, H. D. Berndt, "Sediment yield prediction based on
watershed hydrology," Trans ASAE, vol. 20, pp. 1100-1104, 1977.
[17] K. Bongartz, "Applying different spatial distribution and modeling
concepts in three nested mesoscale catchments of Germany," Phys Chem
Earth, vol. 28, pp. 1343-1349, 2003.
[18] W. H. Wischmeier, D. D. Smith, Predicting rainfall erosion losses: a
guide to conservation planning. USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 537,
Washington, DC, 1978.
[19] J M. Masson, "L-érosion des sols par l-eau en climat Méditerranéen.
Méthodes expérimentales pour l-étude des quantités érodées ├á l-échelle
du champ," LHBl, vol. 8, pp. 673-679, 1972.
[20] EEA, Environment in the European Union at the Turn of the Century.
European Environmental Agency, 1999.
[21] M. P. Tripathi, R. K. Panda, N. S. Raghuwanshi, "Identification and
prioritization of critical sub-watersheds for soil conservation
management using the SWAT model," Biosyst Eng, vol. 85, no. 3, pp.
365-379, 2003.
[22] A. Vrieling, G. Sterk, O. Vigiak, "Spatial evaluation of soil erosion risk
in the west Usambara mountains, Tanzania," Land Degrad Develop, vol.
17, pp. 301-319, 2006.
[23] W. Bewket, E. Teferi, "Assessment of soil erosion hazard and
prioritization for treatment at the watershed level: Case study in the
Chemoga watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Land Degrad Develop,
vol. 20, pp. 609-622, 2009.
[24] M. A. Nearing et al, "Modeling response of soil erosion and runoff to
changes in precipitation and cover," Catena, vol. 61, pp. 131-154, 2005.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:51010", author = "Manel Mosbahi", title = "Determination of Critical Source Areas for Sediment Loss: Sarrath River Basin, Tunisia", abstract = "The risk of water erosion is one of the main
environmental concerns in the southern Mediterranean regions. Thus,
quantification of soil loss is an important issue for soil and water
conservation managers. The objective of this paper is to examine the
applicability of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model
in The Sarrath river catchment, North of Tunisia, and to identify the
most vulnerable areas in order to help manager implement an
effective management program. The spatial analysis of the results
shows that 7 % of the catchment experiences very high erosion risk,
in need for suitable conservation measures to be adopted on a priority
basis. The spatial distribution of erosion risk classes estimated 3%
high, 5,4% tolerable, and 84,6% low. Among the 27 delineated subcatchments
only 4 sub-catchments are found to be under high and
very high soil loss group, two sub-catchments fell under moderate
soil loss group, whereas other sub-catchments are under low soil loss
group.", keywords = "Critical source areas, Erosion risk, SWAT model.", volume = "5", number = "8", pages = "412-5", }
