Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model
Intensive irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions can cause significant environmental issues, including salinity, waterlogging, and water quality deterioration. Watershed modeling helps us understand essential water balance components in these areas. This study implemented a modified SWAT (Soil and...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Pratikshya Neupane Ryan T. Bailey |
| author_facet | Pratikshya Neupane Ryan T. Bailey |
| author_sort | Pratikshya Neupane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intensive irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions can cause significant environmental issues, including salinity, waterlogging, and water quality deterioration. Watershed modeling helps us understand essential water balance components in these areas. This study implemented a modified SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model tailored to capture irrigation practices within a 15,900 km<sup>2</sup> area of the Arkansas River Basin from 1990 to 2014. The model analyzed key water balance elements: surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, lateral flow, and groundwater return flow, distinguishing between wet and dry years. Over 90% of precipitation is consumed by evapotranspiration. The average watershed water yield comprises 19% surface runoff, 39% groundwater return flow, and 42% lateral flow. Various irrigation scenarios were simulated, revealing that transitioning from flood to sprinkler irrigation reduced surface runoff by over 90% without affecting crop water availability in the intensively irrigated region of the watershed. Canal sealing scenarios showed substantial groundwater return flow reductions: approximately 15% with 20% sealing and around 57% with 80% sealing. Scenario-based analyses like these provide valuable insights for optimizing water resource management in intensively irrigated watersheds. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82a628fc40e04a3b8a03eb176047db66 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-82a628fc40e04a3b8a03eb176047db662025-08-20T03:08:01ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-07-0115727210.3390/geosciences15070272Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT ModelPratikshya Neupane0Ryan T. Bailey1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1372 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USADepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1372 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USAIntensive irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions can cause significant environmental issues, including salinity, waterlogging, and water quality deterioration. Watershed modeling helps us understand essential water balance components in these areas. This study implemented a modified SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model tailored to capture irrigation practices within a 15,900 km<sup>2</sup> area of the Arkansas River Basin from 1990 to 2014. The model analyzed key water balance elements: surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, lateral flow, and groundwater return flow, distinguishing between wet and dry years. Over 90% of precipitation is consumed by evapotranspiration. The average watershed water yield comprises 19% surface runoff, 39% groundwater return flow, and 42% lateral flow. Various irrigation scenarios were simulated, revealing that transitioning from flood to sprinkler irrigation reduced surface runoff by over 90% without affecting crop water availability in the intensively irrigated region of the watershed. Canal sealing scenarios showed substantial groundwater return flow reductions: approximately 15% with 20% sealing and around 57% with 80% sealing. Scenario-based analyses like these provide valuable insights for optimizing water resource management in intensively irrigated watersheds.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/7/272semi-arid watershedSWAT modelIntensive irrigationwet-dry analysiswater flux |
| spellingShingle | Pratikshya Neupane Ryan T. Bailey Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model Geosciences semi-arid watershed SWAT model Intensive irrigation wet-dry analysis water flux |
| title | Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model |
| title_full | Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model |
| title_fullStr | Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model |
| title_short | Scenario Analysis in Intensively Irrigated Semi-Arid Watershed Using a Modified SWAT Model |
| title_sort | scenario analysis in intensively irrigated semi arid watershed using a modified swat model |
| topic | semi-arid watershed SWAT model Intensive irrigation wet-dry analysis water flux |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/7/272 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pratikshyaneupane scenarioanalysisinintensivelyirrigatedsemiaridwatershedusingamodifiedswatmodel AT ryantbailey scenarioanalysisinintensivelyirrigatedsemiaridwatershedusingamodifiedswatmodel |