Calibration and validation of the SWAT model for Upper Bernam River Basin in Malaysia
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- Details
- Parent Category: 2025
- Category: Content №6 2025
- Created on 25 December 2025
- Last Updated on 25 December 2025
- Published on 30 November -0001
- Written by M. D. Zakari, Md R. Kamal, N. M. Ramli, B. M. Rehan, M. S. F. Bin Mohd.
- Hits: 1590
Authors:
M. D. Zakari*, orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-2254, University Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Serdang, Malaysia; Bayero University Kano, Faculty of Engineering, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Department, Kano, Nigeria, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Md R. Kamal*, orcid.org/0009-0008-0750-905X, University Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Serdang, Malaysia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
N. M. Ramli, orcid.org/0000-0002-8640-1598, University Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Serdang, Malaysia
B. M. Rehan, orcid.org/0000-0002-9404-0809, University Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Serdang, Malaysia
M. S. F. Bin Mohd, orcid.org/0000-0002-2050-6071, National Water Research Institute of Malaysia, River Basin Research Centre, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
* Corresponding authors e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu. 2025, (6): 168 - 178
https://doi.org/10.33271/nvngu/2025-6/168
Abstract:
Purpose. The calibration and validation of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model are essential to ensure its accuracy in simulating hydrological processes for effective decision-making. This study focuses on the Upper Bernam River Basin (UBRB) in Malaysia, where the SWAT model was calibrated and validated using observed streamflow data from 1985 to 2022.
Methodology. Calibration and validation were performed in three categories: category 1 (10-year calibration, 5-year validation), category 2 (15-year calibration, 10-year validation), and category 3 (20-year calibration, 10-year validation).
Findings. Statistical indices for category 1 indicated a satisfactory model performance, with calibration results showing a p-factor of 0.82, r-factor of 0.88, R2 of 0.72, NSE of 0.70, PBIAS of -1.1 %, and KGE of 0.85. Validation results indicated a p-factor of 0.80, r-factor of 1.04, R2 of 0.75, NSE of 0.65, PBIAS of -6.6 %, and KGE of 0.79. Moreover, the results from category 1 showed better performance over the other categories indicating that simulation length does not usually improve data quality or model performance. The 15-year model setup for category 1 was subjected to water balance evaluation and the result shows that the simulated inflow (precipitation) and outflow (water yield + ET) differences for 1991‒2005 and 2006‒2020 were 9.8 and 11.5 %, respectively.
Originality. This study uniquely applies long-term observed streamflow data and multi-scenario calibration-validation to improve SWAT model reliability for simulating hydrology in the Upper Bernam River Basin.
Practical values. This study demonstrates the SWAT model’s reliability in predicting agro-hydrological processes and provides insights into sustainable agricultural water management in UBRB.
Keywords: SWAT model, calibration, validation, Upper Bernam River Basin (UBRB), streamflow, agricultural water management
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