Estimation of sediment yield using SWAT model for Upper Tapi basin

Abstract

Estimates of sediment yield are needed for studies of reservoir sedimentation, river morphology and planning of soil and water conservation measures. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool model, a physically based distributed hydrological model, is utilized for sediment yield estimation in the Burhanpur subbasin measuring an area of 8487 km2 in Upper Tapi catchment. The basin shows large heterogeneity in terms of hydrological parameters, land use – land cover and soil features. The model has been calibrated and validated using observed run-off and sediment yield data of 12 years at the basin outlet. The average values for Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and RSR for sediment yield are found to be 0.85 and 0.36, respectively, which are within satisfactory limits.