Thresholds of land cover to control runoff and soil loss |
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| Authors: | Masoud Eshghizadeh Ali Talebi MohammadTaghi Dastorani |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Gonabad, Gonabad, Iran;2. Watershed Management Group, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran;3. Visiting Scholar, Geography Department, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada;4. Department of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran |
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| Abstract: | This research focused on the determination of land cover thresholds that have a significant impact on runoff generation and soil loss at the pedon scale. For this purpose, six erosion micro-plots were set up on grassland and shrubland types of rangeland in the northeast of Iran, and the amounts of vegetation cover, litter, runoff and soil loss on them were measured. A factorial statistical analysis was carried out on the completely randomized design using land cover and rainfall factors. The results show that the effect of rainfall on soil loss and runoff was greater than that of land cover. Also, the effect of land cover on soil loss was greater than that on runoff generation. Furthermore, two specific thresholds were identified: the first was from 10 to 30% of landcover and the second from 50 to 70%. |
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| Keywords: | erosion plot land cover pedon scale runoff soil loss |
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