Document Type : Complete scientific research article
Authors
1
Corresponding Author, Professor, Dept. of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Iran
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Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares Resources University, Noor 46417-76489, Iran
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Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University
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Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University
Abstract
Background and objectives: Soil erosion and its consequences, exacerbated by the intensification of human exploitation of nature, has had a detrimental impact on ecosystems. It is also, considered one of the main vulnerable factors of resource stability and sustainable development. Soil erosion poses a threat to approximately 36% of agricultural lands and 60% of all soils in Iran. The use of biological methods has shown significant results and impacts in the initial stages of erosion. The increasing erosion rate underscores the necessity of utilizing biological methods in conjunction with bioengineering methods, engineering, and other structural measures. However, the use of nature-based to management soil erosion has yet to be widely accepted due to the lack of a suitable implementation model by project implementation agencies. This study was therefore conducted to address the urgent need for the nature-based management of erosion in the Shazand Watershed, located in the Markazi Province, due to the high prevalence of manageable distributed erosion.
Materials and methods: To determine the initial land units, the elevation, slope, and geologic maps of the Shazand Watershed were combined. Then the soil erosion status was completed based on the scoring table of the seven factors of the BLM model, in land units based on field visits and expert opinions, and then the erosion feature map was prepared. In the next step, in order to ensure the results of the erosion feature map, the leaf area index map was prepared using the MSI sensor data of the Sentinel-2 satellite.Then, the Ambrothermic diagram, hythergraph, and climate-biological map were prepared for the entire watershed. In the following, livestock density in different agro-climatic class was investigated, and suitable species were ultimately presented from the list of dominant species in the region.
Results: The assessment of the BLM model revealed that among the 15 land units, one land unit (12%) was in the state of partial erosion, nine land units (58%) were in the state of low erosion, four land units (25%) were in the state of moderate erosion, and a land unit (3%) had the highest erosion rate. The soil erosion situation within the watershed was in the lowest class, with a score of 36.53. The erosion map analysis and the obtained leaf surface indices confirmed the accuracy of field measurements against remote sensing data. The Ambrothermic diagram further showed that the months from May to October are dry, while June to August are the driest months of the year in the study area. According to the agroclimatic studies, zones 5 and 2 have the highest livestock density, with 36% and 19%, respectively. Finally, Agropyron desertorum, Secale montanum, Bromus tomentellu, Onobrychis sativa, Artemisia siberi, and Amygduluse orintalis were selected to be used for reclamation purposes in different zones. These results hold the potential to be a game-changer in environmental soil erosion management at early stages using various types of endemic species.
Conclusion: The findings of this study are of significant importance, emphasizing the pressing need for effective watershed erosion management. By harnessing the restoration capabilities of the ecosystem, we can create opportunities and the necessary conditions for rejuvenating various parts of the watershed. This approach, when combined with appropriate and straightforward solutions, can make a substantial contribution to the mitigation of soil erosion in the Shazand Watershed and beyond.
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