Sediment Estimation Using Different Erosion Components

Erosion and sediment production studies along with other natural resources studies in decision making and success and efficiency of watershed plans are of great importance. In order to plan and be aware of the destructive situation of the watershed, it is necessary to have erosion and sediment production from each watershed. The information about sediment load of basins can show the prospect of erosion. Sediment scatter from the soil surface by the impact of raindrops and shear force of runoff and is transported to downstream by spraying from raindrops and mainly by runoff. Also, the stress characteristics of soil particles are important in the process of effective transport. In recent decades, soil erosion has been intensified due to the human interference, inappropriate land management and land use. This is much more important in developing countries, because soil erosion is a serious risk to sustainable development in these countries. Soil erosion on farmland occurs due to the interaction between nature and human activities that have been being intensified in recent years. Estimation of sedimentation in watersheds, dealing with sediment accumulation risks in water structures and reservoirs of dams are the main objectives in water resources management that leads to sustainable development. One of the most erodibility of Iran is the Gachsaran formation. Gachsaran formation is about 1600 meters thick. A viewpoint of lithology is consisting of salt, anhydrite, colorful lime, and some shale. Gachsaran formation age is lower Miocene.

In this study, in order to determine sediment estimation by using different erosion components in different land uses of Gachsaran formation deposits, a part of Kuhe Gypsum watershed of Izeh city with an area of 1202 hectares was selected. In this study, the relationship between produced sediment and different erosion components such as runoff,soil permeability,runoff, and erosion threshold in different land uses of Gachsaran formation was determined by multivariate regression. Then, sampling of erosion different components was done at 6 points with 3 replicates and at rainfall different intensities of 0.75, 1 and 1.25 mm/min in three land uses of rangeland, residential area and agricultural using rain simulator. SPSS and EXCEL softwares were used for statistical analysis.

The results showed that sediment estimation using different erosion components presents acceptable results and can be used for other watersheds. The results also showed that in sediment estimation by erosion different components, runoff and erosion threshold had the most positive and negative effect and in eight cases played a role in modeling. Then, soil permeability has the average effect of positive and negative and has played a role in modeling in seven cases. In addition, runoff has not played a role in modeling in any of the three different land uses and intensities of precipitation.

Sediment estimation by erosion different components, the runoff and erosion threshold had the highest effect. Soil permeability had a moderate influence and runoff rate has not played a role in modeling in any of different land uses and precipitation intensities, it indicated the much more important role of runoff and erosion threshold and soil permeability in this modeling method in estimating sediment production. Finally, sediment estimation method by using erosion different components showed that it could be more applicable in sediment estimation in hard-to-reach watersheds in the future and be more effective in soil conservation and erosion reduction with appropriate and rational estimates in more appropriate implementation of watershed projects.