Determination of water balance equation components in irrigated agricultural watersheds using SWAT and MODFLOW models : A case study of Samalqan plain in Iran
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Abstract: Increasing water demands, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, continuously exacerbate groundwater as the only reliable water resources in these regions. Samalqan watershed, Iran, is a groundwater-based irrigation watershed, so that increased aquifer extraction, has caused serious groundwater depletion. So that the catchment consists of surface water, the management of these resources is essential in order to increase the groundwater recharge. Due to the existence of rivers, the low thickness of the alluvial sediments, groundwater level fluctuations and high uncertainty in the calculation of hydrodynamic coefficients in the watershed, the SWAT and MODFLOW models were used to assess the impact of irrigation return flow on groundwater recharge and the hydrological components of the basin. For this purpose, the irrigation operation tool in the SWAT model was utilized to determine the fixed amounts and time of irrigation for each HRU (Hydrological Response Unit) on the specified day. Since the study area has pressing challenges related to water deficit and sparsely gauged, therefore, this investigation looks actual for regional scale analysis. Model evaluation criteria, RMSE and NRMSE for the simulated groundwater level were 1.8 m and 1.1% respectively. Also, the simulation of surface water flow at the basin outlet, provided satisfactory prediction (R2=0.92, NSE=0.85). Results showed that, the irrigation has affected the surface and groundwater interactions in the watershed, where agriculture heavily depends on irrigation. Annually 11.64 Mm3 water entered to the aquifer by surface recharge (precipitation, irrigation), transmission loss from river and recharge wells 5.8 Mm3 and ground water boundary flow (annually 20.5 Mm3). Water output in the watershed included ground water extraction and groundwater return flow (annually 46.4 Mm3) and ground water boundary flow (annually 0.68 Mm3). Overally, the groundwater storage has decreased by 9.14 Mm3 annually in Samalqan aquifer. This method can be applied to simulate the effects of surface water fluxes to groundwater recharge and river-aquifer interaction for areas with stressed aquifers where interaction between surface and groundwater cannot be easily assessed.
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Key words:
- Groundwater level /
- SWAT Model /
- MODFLOW Model /
- Recharge /
- Irrigation
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Table 1. General geological characteristics and soil units in the study area
Permeability based on geological characteristic Soil depth based on geological characteristic Geological characteristic Land use Soil texture Unit high high Antelopes, young conifers, alluvial plains, young alluvial river Pasture Moderate 3 001 Moderate Moderate Conglomerate with poor consolidation Forest Moderate 3 002 Low Low Thick layer limestone, chert limestone, clayey limestone and marl Forest Moderate 3 003 Low Low Shale Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 004 Low Low Thick layer limestone, chert limestone, clayey limestone and marl Bare Ground Tundra Moderate 3 005 high high Antelopes, young conifers, alluvial plains, young alluvial river Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 007 Low Low Red marl and sandstone with layers of conglomerate Pasture Moderate 3 008 Moderate high Antelopes, old cones, alluvial plains Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 009 Low Low Antelopes, old cones, alluvial plains Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 010 Low Moderate to high Orbital insoluble limestone Pasture Moderate 3 011 Low Moderate to high Orbital insoluble limestone Forest Moderate 3 012 Low Moderate to high Orbital insoluble limestone Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 013 Low Low Clay limestone, marl, sandstone and conglomerate, coarse sandstone and conglomerate Orchard-agriculture Moderate to strong 3 014 Moderate Moderate Conglomerate with poor consolidation Pasture Moderate 3 016 high high Antelopes, young conifers, alluvial plains, young alluvial river Pasture Moderate 3 017 high high Antelopes, young conifers, alluvial plains, young alluvial river Orchard-agriculture Moderate 3 018 Low Moderate to high Orbital insoluble limestone Forest Moderate 3 019 Table 2. Model evaluation statistics, calibration - validation periods
Coefficients Station Name Calibrated period (2004-2012) Validation Period (2013-2014) P-factor R-factor R2 NSE PBIAS PSR P-factor R-factor R2 NSE PSR PBIAS Darband
Shirabad
Darkesh0.82
0.75
0.720.90
0.78
0.760.92
0.85
0.820.85
0.80
0.75−3.0
2.5
3.80.58
0.50
0.480.80
0.78
0.750.87
0.75
0.700.85
0.80
0.760.80
0.78
0.720.55
0.52
0.46−2.8
1.5
2.6Table 3. Average annual surface water balance components calculated by the SWAT model
Surface water balance component(mm) Calibrated period(2004-2012) Validation Period(2013-2014) Precipitation; Precip
Potential evapotranspiration; PET486.5
1 359.0468.3
1 377.8Actual evapotranspiration; ET
Water yield; WYLD
Surface runoff; Sur_Q
Soil water; SW
Lateral flow; Lat_Q
Contribution of groundwater to stream flow; Gw_Q
Percolation out of soil420.5
43.7
1.2
61.5
20.2
18.5
45.0429.0
46.5
2.5
45.5
14.4
15.8
26.5Table 4. Groundwater balance components
Components In-flow (Mm3/a) Out-flow (Mm3/a) Inflow boundaries 20.5 Infiltration of river bed and sewage well 5.8 Infiltration of Surface water(Precipitation, irrigation return flow) 11.64 Outflow boundaries 0.68 Discharge and extraction (well, spring) 46.4 Total 37.94 47.08 Storage −9.14 -
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