Enhanced crop calibration for SWAT+: evaluating water, sediment and nutrient impacts across ten European catchments

This paper introduces a new workflow for improving crop growth representation and yield calibration in the SWAT+ model, and examines how these influences simulations of water, sediment and nutrient processes. The approach was tested in ten small agricultural catchments across Europe, with a detailed example from the Schwarzer Schöps catchment in Germany.

The results showcases that the workflow consistently improves yield calibration across all case studies. While effects on evapotranspiration and soil moisture were generally small, impacts on sediment and nutrient losses were more pronounced in some catchments, highlighting the importance of accurate crop representation for assessing environmental pressures.

The workflow strengthens the reliability of SWAT+ simulations and provides a practical tool to support evidence-based decision-making in agricultural and environmental management Find out more by clicking the link.