Simulation of sediment yield and evaluation of best management practices in Azuari watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin

Abstract This study was conducted to simulate the sediment yield and evaluate best management practices (BMPs) for control in Azuari watershed, Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia using Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. As inputs model, 30 years (1991–2020) of daily values meteorological data were used. For model simulation, stream flow collected periods from 1988 2012. The area delineated into 19 subwatersheds estimated each subwatershed modified universal soil loss equation. average simulated watershed found be 10.81 t/ha/yr. Six identified have high severe yields are considered hotspot areas which require prior mitigation measures sediment. Four conservation evaluated SWAT as BMPs namely filter strip, terracing, strip cropping, contouring. Filter reduce by 35.61%, terracing 20.44%, cropping 44.12%, contouring 43.6%. Thus, implementation resulted maximum reduction. findings would help make informed decisions on strategies.