@article{PAR00021148,
  title = {{A}pplications of a {SWAT} model to evaluate the contribution of the {T}afna catchment (north-west {A}frica) to the nitrate load entering the {M}editerranean {S}ea},
  author = {{Z}ettam, {A}. and {T}aleb, {A}. and {S}auvage, {S}. and {B}oithias, {L}aurie and {B}elaidi, {N}. and {S}anchez-{P}erez, {J}. {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{A}n elevated nitrogen concentration in water is one of the main problems affecting water quality in {M}editerranean rivers. {T}he objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the contribution of the {T}afna catchment to the nitrate load entering the {M}editerranean {S}ea, (2) to quantify the impact of agriculture on the nitrate concentration in water bodies, (3) to evaluate nitrate loads entering groundwater, and (4) to quantify the role of reservoirs in nitrate retention. {A} {SWAT} model was applied during the period 2003 to 2011. {T}he discharge calibration was based on a previous study by {Z}ettam et al. (2017). {NSE} efficiencies ranged from 0.421 to 0.75,{R}(2)ranged from 0.25 to 0.84, and {PBIAS} ranged from 3.68 to 39.42. {T}he simulations of monthly nitrate loads were satisfactory in the upstream sampling stations, with {NSE} between 0.48 and 0.65 and{R}(2)between 0.63 and 0.68. {T}he {PBIAS} was satisfactory in all the sampling stations (- 36.30 to 10.42). {I}n the downstream sampling stations, the calibration of the monthly nitrate loads was unsatisfactory ({NSE} ranged from - 0.26 to 0.21 and{R}(2)ranged from 0.02 to 0.25). {F}ertilisation was the main {N} input in the catchment, while the main {N} output was plant uptake. {T}he {T}afna {R}iver carried an annual average of 37 to 85.5 t {N} year(-1)into the {M}editerranean {S}ea. {T}he simulation also showed that reservoirs in the {T}afna basin contain a large quantity of nitrates, i.e. 62% on average of the total amount of nitrates transported annually by the {T}afna {R}iver.},
  keywords = {{N}itrate fluxes ; {R}eservoir lakes ; {SWAT} ; {T}afna {R}iver ; {S}emi-arid basin ; {ALGERIE} ; {MEDITERRANEE} ; {TAFNA} {COURS} {D}'{EAU}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {M}onitoring and {A}ssessment},
  volume = {192},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {art. 510 [17p.]},
  ISSN = {0167-6369},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10661-020-08482-0},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/{PAR}00021148},
}