Assessment of soil erosion using RUSLE 3D, case study: Kan ‎Watershed

Recently soil erosion and sediment yield has become one of the most important problems of the environment. Soil erosion risk assessment and sediment yield are first steps to confront with this problem. In this regard, various models and methods proposed. What is certain, first of all must be verified the functionality of these models. The present study is carried out to KanSoleghan watershed in order to estimate the soil erosion risk and sediment yield. RUSLE 3D was used in geographical information system platform. Rainfall Erosivity (R), were obtained from monthly and annual data and IDW techniques, Soil Erodibility (K) were obtained from soil data and regin map, Land cover Management (C) using remote sensing techniques (with use of NDVI), LS using digital elevation model, Soil Conservation Practice with using slope percent map. Eventually based on RUSLE 3D model combining these factors together, annual average risk of soil erosion was obtained 22.20 t.ha-1.y to estimate the sediment delivery ratio was used several models, accordingly, the estimated annual sediment yield was overestimated in all models. Sedimentation basin was calculated using statistics gauging stations sooleghan (1.82 tons per hectare per year). Our study indicated that LS factors of the RUSLE 3D model (r2=0.68) were the most effective factors controlling soil erosion in the region. In general, it can be said that the reliability of the used data and used methods is too low and too many uncertainses exist for areliable calculation of soil loss amounts in kan soleghan watershed using the RUSLE 3D Model.