Document Type : Review
Authors
1
Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sanandaj, Iran
2
Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
3
Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Soil erosion and sediment yield are significant environmental challenges in Iran, substantially impacting agriculture, natural resources, and ecosystems. The lack of sufficient information about the results of different methods of estimating and measuring soil erosion is a serious challenge in soil erosion studies in the country. Initially, water erosion studies conducted within the country between 1972 and 1984 were searched and collected in various scientific databases such as the Scientific Information Center of the Academic Jihad, the National Publications Database, and Google Scholar. These scientific sources were classified and analyzed from different aspects and perspectives. Then, various methods for measuring and estimating soil erosion, including mathematical and experimental models, as well as existing estimates of soil erosion and sedimentation rates in Iran, were presented and introduced. The results of the reviewed studies show that the rate of soil erosion in different watersheds of Iran varies significantly and has been reported to average between 5 and 68 tons per hectare per year. The differences are influenced by climatic and local factors, including geographical features, soil type, vegetation cover, roughness, and human activities. The spatial distribution of the use of RUSLE, MPSIAC, EPM, WEPP, ICONA, and SLEMSA models in Iran was presented. Some soil erosion studies in the country have used models to estimate soil erosion without considering the assumptions and scope of application of the models.
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