Author(s): Vajapeyam Srirangachar Srinivasan; Elton Silva Cruz
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Soil erosion; Surface runoff; WEPP model; Semiarid region of Brazil
Abstract: The process based model WEPP has been used for evaluating the amount of surface runoff and sediment yield by the erosion of soil in the semiarid region of the state of Paraiba in the north east of Brazil. The data collected in two experimental basins located within the same hydrologic region were used to estimate some of the model parameters and in the validation process. Data obtained from two bare erosion plots of 100 m2 in the Experimental Basin of Sume were used to estimate and validate the infiltration and interrill erodibility parameters. The data from two micro-basins, located within the same experimental basin, with areas of 0. 48 ha and 0. 52 ha were used to estimate the rill erosion parameter in one of them and validate the calibrated model in the other one. Subsequently, the model WEPP was applied to two bare erosion plots of 100 m2 and a micro-basin (0. 18 ha), within the same hydrologic region but with limited data, to estimate the mean parameter values. The results show that WEPP is quite efficient and robust in simulating the runoff and erosion processes in the region at the level of the micro-basins.
Year: 2005