What the study found
The review found that SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) studies in developing-country agricultural watersheds often report satisfactory to very good model performance. It also found that medium-sized basins are the most commonly studied, and that land use and land cover change is strongly linked with hydrological change.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the review offers insights for effective water resource management in agricultural watersheds. They also say it helps link basin scale, climate regime, model reliability, and best management practice effectiveness.
What the researchers tested
The researchers compiled 143 studies published between 2017 and 2025 using the PRISMA research protocol and analyzed the data collection using the PICO method. They examined SWAT model performance, watershed characteristics, land use land cover change, climate change, and best management practices in developing regions.
What worked and what didn't
Medium-sized basins, defined as 10,001–100,000 km², accounted for about 33% of the studies. Most studies reported R² and NSE values above 0.5, which the abstract describes as satisfactory to very good results; it also reports a strong correlation between land use and hydrological changes with R² = 0.923. The review identifies best management practice combinations in series, including structural and management practices, as important for watershed protection and sustainable agricultural practice.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says the paper provided narrative-driven regional analyses with limited statistical integration. It also notes that future research should focus on data collection and calibration methods for SWAT modeling, climate change projections, extreme event scenarios, and long-term analysis linked to sustainable agriculture planning.
Key points
- 143 studies from 2017–2025 were reviewed using PRISMA and PICO.
- Medium-sized basins (10,001–100,000 km²) made up about 33% of SWAT applications.
- Most studies reported R² and NSE values greater than 0.5.
- The abstract reports a strong land use–hydrology relationship with R² = 0.923.
- The review highlights combined structural and management best management practices.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- SWAT review links land use change and climate impacts in agricultural watersheds
- Authors:
- Rucira Siewlan Neoh, Khairul Nizam Abdul Maulud, Syed Ahmad Fadhli Syed Abdul Rahman, Wei Lun Ang, Noraishah Abdul Harris, Biswajeet Pradhan
- Institutions:
- Geospatial Research (United Kingdom), National University of Malaysia, National University of Malaysia, National University of Malaysia, National University of Malaysia
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-25
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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