Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, Vol 79, No 3 (2014)

Prediction of Storm-Wise Soil Erosion in Dryland Farming using a Hillslope Erosion Model

Somayeh FAZLI, Hamzeh NOOR

Pages: 145-149

Summary


Prediction of storm wise soil erosion and sediment yield is very important, especially in arid and semiarid regions due to small numbers and high intensity of rainfall. Sometimes inappropriate use of the model causes very high or low estimate. However, evaluation of soil erosion by existing models is needed as an important tool for managerial purposes in designation proper water and soil conservation technique. The present study aimed to assess the applicability of Hillslope Erosion Model (HEM) as one of the newest erosion models for prediction of storm-wise sediment yield in Khosbijan Research Center with dryland treatment by using soil erosion standard plots. In order to run the model, runoff depth, vegetation cover density, land surface cover, soil texture, slope steepness and length were determined for 16 storm events. The results showed that the uncalibrated HEM didn’t simulate the observed sediment yields, properly. Calibration of soil erodibility parameter between 0.2 – 1 and developing regression between observed and estimated data indicated that the model could successfully predict the soil erosion rate with determination coefficient of 0.91. These findings indicate that calibration of erodibility factor and regression between observed and estimated could improve storm-wise sediment yield prediction using HEM.


Keywords


storm-wise soil erosion; Khosbijan Research Center; model calibration; Iran

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