SWAT model application for sediment yield modeling and parameters analysis in Wadi K’sob (northeast Algeria)

A comprehension of the erosion processes and sediment transport in the watershed is essential for the sustainable management of the water resources and soil fertility.In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to demonstrate its ability to modeling the suspended sediment yield in the Wadi K'sob basin located in the northeast of Algeria.The data used to set up the SWAT model are the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use, soil types and weather data.The results obtained after calibration oscillating between good and satisfactory where (NSE=0.67 and R 2 =0.73) in the first calibration period and (NSE=0.65 b and R 2 =0.67) in the second period.In the validation, the performance of the SWAT model was very good (NSE =0.78 and R 2 =0.79) in the first period while in the second period the prediction of the model was satisfactory (NSE=0.52 and R 2 =0.54).In addition, the validation process revealed that some parameters are stable and related on watershed characteristics while other unstable parameters depend on soil properties especially soil permeability and soil erodibility.