Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in Brazil: Applications for Understanding, Use, and Conservation of National Water Resources

The SWAT model is a fundamental tool for water resource management and is widely used in hydrological monitoring. In this context, a scientometric analysis was conducted to characterize the use of the SWAT model in Brazil, a country with significant water availability. A total of 119 scientific articles published between 2011 and 2024 in journals indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases were analyzed. These publications were distributed across 62 journals and involved 396 authors affiliated with 128 institutions from 19 countries. The study revealed a concentration of research in specific hydrographic regions and thematic areas, with 40% of the studies focusing on the impacts of land-use changes on hydrology and sediment yield. The main gaps identified relate to water quality modeling and the application of SWAT in urban basins. Furthermore, limitations regarding the transparency and availability of input data were observed, hindering study replicability and knowledge dissemination. The unequal geographic distribution of these applications represents a challenge for Brazilian science. Therefore, for SWAT research to mature and effectively integrate science with water sustainability, it is imperative to promote transparent data sharing and foster inter-regional collaborations. By overcoming these barriers, it will be possible to ensure study reproducibility and support the formulation of equitable public policies across the entire national territory.