Relationship Between Land Use and Soil Erosion in Manderijan Catchment in Zayandehrud Dam Basin

The intensity and type of soil erosion are functions of climatic, topographic, soil and land use characteristics. The role of land use is more than others due to the human impacts. In order to study the relationship between land use change and soil erosion, the Manderijan watershed located upstream of Zayandehrud dam basin, comprises 23000 ha, was selected. The satellite images of MSS1979, TM1990, TM1998 and ETM2002 were used to map land use as well as soil erosion features during the study periods. The relationship between the existence as well as areas of each particular soil erosion feature and land use was also investigated using regression and Chi-square analyses. The results of the study verified a significant relationship between areas of land uses and soilerosion features. The moderate sheet erosion was further related to the land use changes in particular in the form of cubic regression equation having the determination coefficient of less than 81% and relative error of below 39.65%. The Chi-square analysis was also certified the insignificant relationship between existence of each particular soil erosion feature and land use whereas the relationship between land use and soil erosion areas could be significantly approved. The results of the study therefore can be utilized for proper management of the area through devoting necessary attention into the land uses.