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Research Project: SPATIAL MODELING OF AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS: WATER AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AND TARGETED CONSERVATION EFFECTS AT FIELD TO WATERSHED SCALES

Location: Agricultural Systems Research Unit

Title: ArgoEcoSystem-watershed (AgES-W) model evaluation for streamflow and nitrogen/sediment dynamics on a midwest agricultural watershed

Authors
item Ascough, James
item David, Olaf -
item Smith, Douglas
item Kipka, Holm -
item Fink, Manfred -
item Green, Timothy
item Krause, Peter -
item McMaster, Gregory
item Kralisch, Sven -
item Ahuja, Lajpat

Submitted to: Environmental Modeling International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: July 1, 2012
Publication Date: December 6, 2012
Citation: Ascough II, J.C., David, O., Smith, D.R., Kipka, H., Fink, M., Green, T.R., Krause, P., Mcmaster, G.S., Kralisch, S., Ahuja, L.R. 2012. ArgoEcoSystem-watershed (AgES-W) model evaluation for streamflow and nitrogen/sediment dynamics on a midwest agricultural watershed. In: Seppelt, R., Voinov, A.A., Lange, S., and Bankamp, D. editors,Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial Meetinf or the International Environmental Modeling and Software Society, Managing Resources of a Limited Planet: Pathways and Visions Under Uncertainty, July 1-5, 2012, Leipzig, Germany. p. 2179-2186.

Interpretive Summary: AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W) is a modular, Java-based hydrologic/water quality simulation model implemented under the Object Modeling System Version 3 (OMS3). The AgES-W model was previously evaluated for streamflow and recently has been enhanced with the addition of nitrogen (N) and sediment modeling components refactored from various agroecosystem models including J2K-S, SWAT, WEPP, and RZWQM2. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and applicability of the enhanced AgES-W model for uncalibrated estimation of streamflow and N/sediment loading. The Upper Cedar Creek Watershed (CCW) in northeastern Indiana, USA was selected for model application. AgES-W model performance was assessed using Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (ENS) and percent bias (PBIAS) model evaluation criteria. Comparisons of simulated and observed average monthly streamflow, average monthly N loading, and daily sediment load for different simulation periods resulted in ENS and PBIAS values that were within the range of those reported in the literature for SWAT streamflow and N/sediment loading predictions at a similar scale and time step.

Technical Abstract: AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W) is a modular, Java-based spatially distributed model which implements hydrologic/water quality simulation components under the Object Modeling System Version 3 (OMS3). The AgES-W model was previously evaluated for streamflow and recently has been enhanced with the addition of nitrogen (N) and sediment modeling components refactored from various agroecosystem models including J2K-S, SWAT, WEPP, and RZWQM2. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and applicability of the enhanced AgES-W model for uncalibrated estimation of streamflow and N/sediment loading. The Upper Cedar Creek Watershed (CCW) in northeastern Indiana, USA was selected for model application. AgES-W model performance was assessed using Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (ENS) and percent bias (PBIAS) model evaluation criteria. Comparisons of simulated and observed average monthly streamflow, average monthly N loading, and daily sediment load for different simulation periods resulted in ENS and PBIAS values that were within the range of those reported in the literature for SWAT streamflow and N/sediment loading predictions at a similar scale and time step. Considering that AgES-W was applied without calibration, study results indicate that the model reasonably reproduced the hydrological, N, and sediment dynamics of the Upper CCW and should serve as a foundation upon which to better quantify additional water quality indicators (e.g., phosphorus dynamics) at the watershed scale.

   

 
Project Team
Green, Timothy
Ma, Liwang
McMaster, Gregory - Greg
Ahuja, Lajpat - Laj
Ascough, James
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
  Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions (212)
  Agricultural System Competitiveness and Sustainability (216)
 
Related Projects
   DEVELOP, TEST, AND IMPROVE THE NEEDED SCIENCE MODULES AND MODELS OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN OMS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS
   DELIVERY OF THE OMS-BASED AGES-W RESOURCE CONCERNS ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR EVALUATING WATER/NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION EFFECTS
   SPATIAL DATA AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS FOR DISTRIBUTED WATERSHED MODELING ADDRESSING NRCS RESOURCE CONCERNS
   SPATIAL DATA AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS FOR DISTRIBUTED WATERSHED MODELING ADDRESSING NRCS RESOURCE CONCERNS
 
 
Last Modified: 05/24/2013
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