The Effects of Watershed Management Operation to Reduce Erosion and Sedimentation in Semi-Arid Pasture Land (Case Study: Daremorid Basin in KERMAN Province)

Soil is one of the most important resources in each country and if it is not protected it will be lost due to erosion and gradually loses its fertility. Soil loss will fill the stream channels, reservoirs and cause serious damages like decreasing crop production per unit area. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of watershed management practices including mechanical and biological measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation in Daremorid watershed in Kerman province. In this study, MPSIAC model parameters such as surface runoff factor, land cover factor, land use factor, current state of erosion factor, channel erosion factor, and sediment behind small dams were used. The results showed that the sediment yield was estimated to be 36653.38 tons per year which is more than the sediment yield calculated in preliminary studies in this watershed (51378.46 tons per year). Based on statistical analysis using SPSS software, the results revealed that there were significant differences between sedimentation and erosion, particularly in each of the parcels in the watershed.