Simulation Accuracy of EROSION-3D Model for Estimation of Runoff and Sediment Yield from Micro-Watersheds

The present study was conducted to test the efficiency and applicability of the EROSION-3D (Jürgen Schmidt, Berlin, Germany) model in the lower Shivaliks of Northwest India. Two similar micro-watersheds in terms of soil characteristics and land use were selected for calibration and validation of the model. The model was calibrated using the data from seven rainstorms of micro-watershed A and validated using data from 11 rainstorms in micro-watershed B. After calibration, the overall statistical parameters, namely RMSE (0.44 mm), percent error (4.92), correlation coefficient (0.94) and model efficiency (88%), clearly indicate that the model simulated runoff quite well in conditions prevalent in Shivaliks. For sediment yield, the overall statistical parameters, namely RMSE (0.365 Mg ha−1), percent error (12.71), correlation coefficient (0.97) and model efficiency (88.32%), clearly indicate that the model simulated sediment yield also quite well. During the validation process, for runoff, RMSE (1.72 mm), percent error (19.19), correlation coefficient (0.94), and model efficiency (81.25%) and, for sediment yield, RMSE (0.19 Mg ha−1), percent error (17.16), correlation coefficient (0.97), and model efficiency (74.48%) clearly demonstrate the reasonable accuracy of the EROSION-3D model to predict runoff and soil loss from micro-watersheds located in Shivaliks of Northwest India. Therefore, the EROSION-3D may be used as decision support system for soil conservation management decisions in the lower Shivaliks of India.