Combined impacts of climate and land use scenarios on sediment loads in small agricultural watershed in Tunisia
1 Soil Department / Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries, Tunisia. Rue Hédi El Karray El Menzah IV-BP N° 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia.
2 National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT). Tunisia.
3 Laboratory of Rural Engineering, National Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF), Rue Hédi El Karray El Menzah IV-BP N° 10, Ariana 2080, Tunisia.
4 Soil Management/Regional Commissary for Agricultural Development of Beja-Northern Tunisia/Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries, Tunisia.
Research Article
GSC Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 21(01), 351–361.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscarr.2024.21.1.0390
Publication history:
Received on 09 September 2024; revised on 20 October 2024; accepted on 23 October 2024
Abstract:
This study investigates the impact of conservation practices, specifically mulching and terracing, on soil erosion in the Kamech watershed (2.6 km²) situated in the Cap Bon region of northeastern Tunisia, under both current and future climate scenarios. Utilizing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, the research evaluates the effectiveness of these Best Management Practices (BMPs) in reducing soil loss, revealing significant reductions of 1.5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for mulching and 2 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for terracing. The findings indicate that these practices play a crucial role in enhancing soil conservation amidst climate change challenges, including altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures. Additionally, the study highlights a notable decline in average monthly rainfall projected for the period 2051 to 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario, further emphasizing the importance of implementing effective soil management strategies. This paper indicates that both methods, mulching and terracing, significantly contribute to reducing soil erosion under future scenarios (2051-2100). Their implementation proves essential for effective soil conservation, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change and maintain soil health in the Kamech watershed. The results contribute to a better understanding of BMP performance in addressing soil erosion, water quality, and hydrological responses in the face of evolving environmental conditions.
By enhancing our understanding of these interactions, this research aims to provide valuable insights for sustainable watershed management, particularly in regions prone to water scarcity and land degradation.
Keywords:
Climate variability; BPM; Soil erosion; SWAT model; Tunisia
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
