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Water scarcity in hilly region has been increasing due to unprecedented population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and various anthropogenic activities. Hence, there is urgent need of accurate estimation of streamflow at river basin scale. Regardless, many hydrological models exist in hydrology, but their capability over hilly river basin is found to be poor, often because of lack of good-quality data over the region. The study undertaken presents an evaluation of widely accepted Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT-2012) model for simulating stream flow in a forest dominated catchment of Kumaon region of Himalayas. SUFI-2 algorithm was used for performing calibration and validation analyses. The model is applied for a duration of 15 years (2000–2013) with 2 years (1998–1999) as warm-up period, 2000–2010 as calibration, and 2011–2013 for validation. During the calibration period of 11 years (2000–2010), the model showed coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of 0.72 and 0.7, respectively. Similarly, over the 3 years (2011–2013) during validation, the value of R2 and NSE were 0.7 and 0.67, respectively. Sensitivity analysis for 12 input parameters which affect streamflow was carried out, and ranking was done on p value leading to the most important parameter affecting the streamflow. This study may be utilized as a decision-making tool by water managers to influence strategies in the management of watershed processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For identification and adoption of improved and environmental friendly agricultural practices with minimum emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), observations were recorded for 3 years (2015–17) in a 22-year-old soybean-wheat based long-term fertilizer experiment that was started in 1995–96. The study involved seven treatments: control (CK), organic manure (M), inorganic fertilizers (NPK), integrated (MNPK), only nitrogen (N), mineral fertilizers in both season (NPK+NPK) and nitrogen with organic manure (MN). MNPK significantly enhanced the system productivity (9.72 Mg ha−1) with higher net return (3128 US$ha−1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.64). Due to better energy output to inputs relation, total energy productivity and energy use efficiency were reported higher in MNPK (0.38 kg MJ−1 and 4.76, respectively) followed by MN (0.34 kg MJ−1 and 4.26, respectively) and M (0.32 kg MJ−1 and 4.16, respectively). In contrast to C efficiency, C sustainability index and yield scaled carbon footprint (CFy), the spatial CO2-e emission (CFs) was found highest under MNPK (~5035 kg CO2-e ha−1) followed by MN and NPK+NPK and lowest was recorded under control. In sum, long-term organic and inorganic fertilization simultaneously in soybean-wheat system may be a preferred strategy for improving soil productivity, profitability, energy use and environmental sustainability of Indian-mid-Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]