Distributed dynamic modelling of suspended sediment mobilization and transport from small agricultural catchments

Abstract

Erosion, soil loss and consequent nutrient fluxes impair water quality and can degrade arable soils. Erosion rates in Sweden are generally low but episodic losses of suspended solids (SS) can affect water quality. Identifying critical source areas (CSAs) and "hot moments" is essential to reduce erosive losses from arable land. Here we use a distributed, dynamic high-resolution erosion model that simulates the sum of all transported material, i.e., erosion within the soil profile, on the soil surface and transport through drainage systems. We simulate monthly SS transport in six small agricultural catchments with varying soil texture over 8 years. Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) was used as model performance statistics, and calibration (KGE = 0.45-0.78) and validation (KGE = 0.64-0.83) showed acceptable model performance for all catchments, with mean annual SS losses between 2.1 and 31.5 t km-2yr-1. Equifinality could be minimised by using more precise initial parameter values. We suggest that the model can be applied to comparable unmonitored catchments to identify erosion-sensitive periods and CSAs.

Keywords

high-resolution modelling; suspended solids; erosion; critical source areas (CSA); USPED; dynamic modelling

Published in

Frontiers in Environmental Science
2023, Volume: 11, article number: 1196048Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

SLU Authors

• Sandström, Sara

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Markensten, Hampus

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Futter, Martyn

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kyllmar, Katarina

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Djodjic, Faruk

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG15 Life on land


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1196048

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/124494