Evaluation of drought features in the Dakbla watershed, Central Highlands of Vietnam

The drought impacts in the Dakbla watershed were assessed based on a combination of hydrological modeling and drought indices. Three drought indices, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSI), and Streamflow Drought Index (SDI) were utilized to evaluate the drought features of meteo-hydrology and agriculture. The results indicated that these indices are well adapted to the local conditions, especially the 12-month time scale. Evaluations of drought features on the watershed scale could provide more specific information regarding drought risk than regional-scale/district-level assessments, because a watershed is a hydrologically fundamental unit to consider water resources management. Additionally, evaluations of drought impacts using the SSI showed longer and higher trends than those using the SPI and SDI in terms of drought duration and frequency. Considering the spatial distribution of drought frequency, the areas predominated by agricultural land in the target watershed had higher drought risk. Thus, assessment of agricultural droughts along with meteo-hydrological droughts is extremely important to support realistic local drought management strategies by considering water availability, water balance, and soil characteristics, especially in specific agricultural areas.