Mapping of soil erosion risk and sediment yield using WaTEM/SEDEM in Hajighoshan watershed of Golestan province

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Soil Science Dep., Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Soil erosion (SE), as one of the most important problems in the world, threatens life and the environment by disrupting natural ecosystems. To protect and sustainably utilize soil, ensure food security, and maintain environmental health, it is essential to assess SE and the resulting sediment yield (SY). In this study, the SE risk of the Haji-Ghoshan watershed was estimated with the Revised Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and using a spatial information system and remote sensing. Then, the SE and SY of the watershed were estimated and examined using the WaTEM/SEDEM. Various data including DEM, rainfall statistics from rain gauge stations, satellite imageries, and soil properties were used to estimate RUSLE factors and WaTEM/SEDEM input layers. The average SE risk in the watershed was estimated to be 61 ton ha-1 y-1. Predicted SE by WaTEM/SEDEM showed a high correlation with RUSLE at the watershed level, but had a systematic overestimation. A good agreement was not observed between the estimated SY by WaTEM/SEDEM and the annual measured SY. The annual SY was strongly affected by flood events, which led to many changes in SY over the years. The basis of the estimation with the model is the annual rainfall erosivity, which its annual changes are much less than the changes of individual flood events. The WaTEM/SEDEM model was not able to estimate the SY in years when extreme flood events occurred, and had an underestimation. On the other hand, in years when flood events do not occur much, it overestimates the SY.

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Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 01 October 2025

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