Articles | Volume 21, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4449-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4449-2017
Research article
 | 
07 Sep 2017
Research article |  | 07 Sep 2017

An improved SWAT vegetation growth module and its evaluation for four tropical ecosystems

Tadesse Alemayehu, Ann van Griensven, Befekadu Taddesse Woldegiorgis, and Willy Bauwens

Viewed

Total article views: 6,830 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
3,880 2,667 283 6,830 347 177 290
  • HTML: 3,880
  • PDF: 2,667
  • XML: 283
  • Total: 6,830
  • Supplement: 347
  • BibTeX: 177
  • EndNote: 290
Views and downloads (calculated since 24 Feb 2017)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 24 Feb 2017)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 6,830 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 6,548 with geography defined and 282 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Cited

Saved (final revised paper)

Latest update: 10 Oct 2026
Download
Short summary
The goal of this paper is to improve the vegetation growth modelling in SWAT for tropical ecosystems. Therefore, we propose a straightforward but robust soil moisture index (SMI) – a quotient of rainfall (P) and reference evapotranspiration (ETr) – to dynamically initiate a new growth cycle within a predefined period. Our results for the Mara Basin (Kenya/Tanzania) show that the simulated LAI corresponds well with the MODIS LAI for for evergreen forest, savanna grassland and shrubland.
Share