Evaluation of Native Plants Potential for Rill and Gully Erosion Control in the North of the Province of Ardabil

A quantitative method is presented to evaluate the ability of plants for rill and gully erosion control in the Moghan region in the province of Ardabil. This research was carried out during a five-year period (2016-2020). Five indicators, namely, stem density (SD), topsoil erosion-reducing potential of plant roots during the concentrated flow erosion (RSD), sediment obstruction potential (SOP), index of plant stiffness (MEI), and root cohesion (Cr) were calculated for 20 native plants of the region (SD=1.411×10-4 – 0.28, RSD=6.68×10-24 – 10.1076, SOP=8.275×10-5 – 0.696, MEI=1.69×10-6 – 27.134 N, Cr=5.432×10-4 – 34.626 Pa). Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., Salsola dendroides Pall.,Artemisia fragrans Willd., Stipa arabica Trin. & Rupr. var. arabica, Alhagi camelorum Fisch., Verbascum stachydifome Boiss. & Buhse., Festuca ovina L., and Melica altissima L. are very appropriate species for controlling rill and gully erosion. Festuca ovina L., Stipa arabica Trin. & Rupr. var. arabica and Melica altissima L.have a distinct potential to obstruct sediment inflow into channels at the gully outlets. As each species has a particular ability in one or more of the indices, combined planting of selected plant species may be more effective in erosion control. The results of this study may be used in adjacent regions and under similar cold-semiarid and cold-arid environments.