Estimation of economic losses of soil erosion of rangelands using Nutrient Replacement Cost Method (NRCM)

Soil and water are considered as the most important blessings of God, having fundamental role in the creation or elimination of different civilizations historically, and today are the most important factors in economic growth and prosperity. Soil erosion is a natural process which is intensified by human activities. Soil fertility decline and the loss of organic matter including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the result of erosion. Reduced forest cover, reduced crop production, increased floods, reduced electricity production, reduced quality of drinking water, sedimentation and so forth are on-site and off-site effects of soil erosion. Since soil erosion is one of the most important issues in the context of sustainable development and environmental issues and in the future is considered as one of the major challenges facing the world (particularly in the natural resources and agriculture sector), this research was conducted to estimate the economic losses of soil erosion in the rangelands of Lorestan watershed using NRCM. The total erosion in the area was estimated to be 107500.6 tons per year using MPSIAC. Economic losses of soil erosion in the study area was calculated for four major elements (N, P, K) using NRCM. The results showed that direct costs of soil erosion of the watershed were 603047733550 Rial.