Calibration and validation of the SWAT model on a field-scale watershed for turfgrass sod establishment

Agricultural best management practices (BMPs) can be used to reduce in-stream manure nutrients from confined dairy feeding operations (CAFOs). A total maximum daily load (TMDL) assessment in the Upper North Bosque River (UNBR) has mandated reductions of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), which is attributed to numerous dairies on the watershed. A proposed BMP utilizes turfgrass sod to export composted dairy manure nutrients out of the impaired watershed. Previous plot-scale and field-scale experiments have shown the potential of the turfgrass BMP to export manure nutrients in a sustainable manner. In the field-scale research, two 1.4 ha turfgrass fields have been instrumented to measure flow, sediment and nutrient loadings. One turfgrass field was fertilized with composted dairy manure and the other with inorganic fertilizer. The observed data from the experimental fields were used to calibrate and validate the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for flow, sediment, organic, and mineral nutrients. The Nash-Sutcliffe model fit efficiency was greater than 0.6 for flow, sediment, and nutrients during the calibration period and greater than 0.3 during the validation period.

Proceedings of the 3rd Conference on Watershed Management to Meet Water Quality Standards and Emerging TMDL

Choi, I., Munster, C. L., Victor, D. M., White, R. H., Stewart, G. A., & Richards, C. E.

Calibration and validation of the SWAT model on a field-scale watershed for turfgrass sod establishment Conference Paper