Estimation of Soil Erosion Rate in Gaushan Watershed Using RUSLE 3D Model
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
- 1 Ph.D. Alumnus, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
- 2 Assoc. Professor, Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Range and watershed management, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
- 3 Assoc. Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
- 4 Assist. Professor, Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran
- 5 Assist. Professor Khorasan Razavi Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
To reduce soil erosion, one of the most important issues is to quantify the amount of erosion and sediment so that planners can make correct decisions in line with the integrated management of watersheds. In this research, in order to evaluate the rate of erosion in the Gaushan watershed, we used the global equation of soil erosion in three dimensions and the geographic information system and remote sensing. The results of RUSLE 3D model were compared with the results of RUSLE model and real values. The rain erosivity factor was calculated using rainfall data and interpolation techniques. Soil erodibility was obtained using the soil map of the region. Land cover factor was calculated using NDVI index. The LS factor was also obtained using the DEM. The main difference between the RUSLE 3D model and the RUSLE model is the difference in how to calculate the LS factor in the RUSLE 3D model. The obtained results showed that the annual average erosion is 5.02 ton/ha/y. In the detailed studies of Gaushan watershed, the rate of erosion is 4.5 ton/ha/y. These results show that the RUSLE 3D model, in which the LS factor has been modified, has been able to estimate the basin erosion well.
Keywords
Subjects
Physics and soil conservation
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