SUMMARY


This page provides summary information on the following subjects:


Meta-information   (to top of page)

Name SWAP 4
Version 4.0.1 (publicly available)
Release date 12-June-2017 (version 4.0.1)
Operability
SWAP 4 simulates transport of water, solutes and heat in the vadose zone. In SWAP 4 the crop growth model WOFOST is fully integrated (see Kroes et al., 2017), as well as a simple nitrogen module (Groenendijk et al., 2017).
Domain SWAP 4 describes a domain from the top of canopy into the groundwater which may be in interaction with a surface water system. It is designed to simulate transport processes at field scale and during entire growing seasons. Multiple years with crop rotations can be considered. In the vertical direction the model domain reaches from a plane just above the canopy to a plane in the shallow groundwater. In this zone the transport processes are predominantly vertical, therefore SWAP is a one-dimensional, vertically directed model. In the horizontal direction, SWAP's main focus is the field scale.
Temporal and spatial scale In the vertical direction the model domain reaches from a plane just above the canopy to a plane in the shallow groundwater. In this zone the transport processes are predominantly vertical, therefore SWAP is a one-dimensional, vertically directed model. In the horizontal direction, SWAP�s main focus is the field scale.
Accuracy The main governing equation is a highly non-linear partial differential equation that is numerically solved by minimizing mass balance errors. The user is able to define convergence criteria that determines the correctness of the solution. Furthermore, the problem is determined by the user-supplied information regarding time-varying boundary conditions. Errors in such input of course determine the simulation.
Required input Water flow:
* Daily evapotranspiration
* Daily rainfall and/or irrigation data
* Soil hydraulic properties
* Drainage conditions
Crop development:
* Development stage during growing period
* Leaf area index during growing period
* Soil cover during growing period
* Rooting depth during growing period
* Sensitivity of crop root water extraction to high and low soil water pressure heads
* Sensitivity of crop root water extraction to salinity concentrations (if applicable)
Solute transport:
* Initial solute concentrations in the soil
* Amount of solute applications and/or solute concentration in irrigation water
* Solute concentrations in groundwater
See details in Kroes et al. (2017) and Groenendijk et al. (2016).
Model output
Time series of extended water and solute balances terms and crop dry matter development including relevant variables. See details in Kroes et al. (2017) and Groenendijk et al. (2017).
Keywords
soil water movement; evapotranspiration; soil hydraulic properties; drainage; crop development; root water uptake; agrohydrology; irrigation, solute transport; soil temperature
User interface Communication between user and model uses ASCII-based files (no graphical user interface).
Programming language, development environment SWAP is written in standard FORTRAN (mixed 77, 90/95, 2003/2008). For file-IO we make use of TTutil, which is also written in FORTRAN. Compilation and (static) linking is mainly done using Intel Intel Parallel Studio XE 2019 Update 3 Composer Edition for Fortran Windows Integration for Microsoft Visual Studio 2017, Version 19.0.0051.15 under Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2017. The same source has also been tested with compilation+linking using the GNU-fortran compiler, and with an intel and GNU compiler on Linux (Ubuntu).
Platform Windows 7, Windows 10.
Linux (Ubuntu) version on request.
Availability The official release can be downloaded from the SWAP website: swap.wur.nl (or www.swap.alterra.nl).
Restrictions on use (legal) This software is distributed under the terms of the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 2, June 1991.
Price Free, see availability.
Contact See availability.

General focus of the model   (to top of page)

SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant) simulates transport of water, solutes and heat in the vadose zone in interaction with vegetation development. SWAP has been employed to explore alternative flow and transport concepts, to analyze laboratory and field experiments, and to evaluate management options with respect to field scale water and solute movement. In the horizontal direction, SWAP�s main focus is the field scale. Published, typical examples are given by Van Dam et al. (2008) and Kroes et al. (2017) for:

SWAP also serves to generate soil water fluxes for pesticide and nutrient models. The model can be used to explore new flow and transport concepts for agro- and ecohydrology and on the analysis of laboratory and field experiments.

General context of use   (to top of page)

The SWAP model has a wide range of users:

History of the model   (to top of page)

The soil hydrological model SWAP has a history of more than 40 years. The first version (called SWATR) was developed by Reinder Feddes and colleagues in The Netherlands and published in 1978. During it�s history regularly updates were spread with derived acronyms SWATRE, SWACROP, SWAP93, and SWAP: Feddes et al. (1978); Belmans et al. (1983); Wesseling et al. (1991); Kabat et al. (1992); Van den Broek et al. (1994); Van Dam et al. (1997); Kroes et al. (2001; 2003; 2008). The previous standard Internet version was published as SWAP3.2.36 by Kroes et al. (2009). The current version is SWAP4.

Systems, sub-systems, mechanisms considered in the conception of the model   (to top of page)

SWAP is a computer model that simulates transport of water, solutes and heat in variably saturated top soils. The program is designed for integrated modeling of the Soil-Atmosphere-Plant System. Transport processes at field scale level and during entire growing seasons are considered. System boundaries at the top are defined by the soil surface with or without a crop and the atmospheric conditions. The lateral boundary simulates the interaction with surface water systems. The bottom boundary is located in the unsaturated zone or in the upper part of the groundwater and describes the interaction with regional groundwater.

Concepts, modeling formalism   (to top of page)

The SWAP model simulates physical processes related to: soil water flow, soil heat flow, solute flow, crop growth, macropore flow and interaction with groundwater and surface water systems. The modeling concepts of these processes are summarized below.

Architecture and modules of the model   (to top of page)

SWAP consists of clearly defined modules for soil water flow, soil heat flow, solute transport, crop growth, macropore flow and interaction with groundwater and surface water systems. An extensive description of SWAP4 is given by Kroes et al. (2017). The figure below provides the sequential flow chart along all components during a simulation.

SWAP main flowchart

Policy variables & intervention measures   (to top of page)

All policy measures taken are related to water management issues. Examples are:

Building the model   (to top of page)

The model input parameters for soil hydrology and crop growth are described by Kroes et al. (2017).

The model input parameters for soil-N, Soil-C and crop-N are described by Groenendijk et al. (2016).

A sensitivity analysis was carried out by Finke et al. (1996) and Wesseling et al. (1998).

The model is distributed with a basic data set. As SWAP is a field scale model, most of the input parameters are clearly defined and can be measured separately. Input parameters may also be determined by inverse modeling. Documented experience is available on automated calibration using the PEST/SWAP combination, validation procedures and validation examples (Van Dam et al, 2008).

The model output parameters are described by Kroes et al. (2017).

Strengths and limitations of the model   (to top of page)

Water flow and solute transport in top soils are important elements in many environmental studies. The agro- and ecohydrological model SWAP (Soil-Water-Plant-Atmosphere) has been developed and is strong in simulation of simultaneously water flow, solute transport, heat flow, macropore flow and crop growth at field scale level.

For detailed pesticide and nutrient flow combination other transport models such as PEARL and ANIMO are recommended.

Application at a regional scale within a GIS-environment requires additional features that are not standard distributed with the model.

SWAP adheres to the open source philosophy. This allows other research teams to integrate the model into all kinds of Decision Support Systems. This has been done at various occasions (e.g. the PEARL team, https://www.pesticidemodels.eu/pearl/home/ )

Recent versions of the model are distributed without a Graphical User Interface.

Downloads on internet   (to top of page)

During the period 2004-2020 the model has been downloaded from more than 150 countries. The figure below shows the spatial distribution of unique SWAP downloads worldwide.

Global map SWAP downloads