Evaluation of the MPSIAC Model for Estimating Sediment in Zeribar Watershed

One of the problems of watershed erosion control is the lack of sediment data to accurately estimate erosion and sediment yield. Sediment estimation using empirical models is common due to its ease of use, which has somewhat remedied the lack of statistical data, but it is essential to ensure the accuracy of models. To evaluate the efficiency of MPSIAC model in Zaribar watershed, a number of sediment check-dams that were at least ten years old, were selected. After determining the depth of sediments and preparing a map using surfer software, the volume of sediments in check-dam reservoirs was calculated and the results with the estimated sediment of the hydrological unit upstream of the check-dams obtained using the MPSIAC model, were compared. The results indicated that the average of observed data of ten selected hydrological units was 0.38, the minimum sediment was 0.03 and the maximum sediment was 1.18 m3/ha.yr. The estimated amount of sediment in the model is an average of 2.02, a minimum of 0.61 and a maximum of 2.96 m3/ha.yr. The results of analysis of both methods using paired t-test showed that the difference between the means for the sedimentation values estimated using the model with the measured values at the level of 5% is not significant. Also, determining the efficiency and RMSE showed that the MPSIAC model is not suitable in study area.