Investigating the Effect of Soil Characteristics on the Expansion of Gully Erosion in the Baron Chaldoran Dam Basin

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Urmia University

2 Ph.D. Student in Watershed Management Science and Engineering

3 Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University

4 Faculty of Range and watershed management

10.30466/asr.2025.54653.1814

Abstract

The most important issue in understanding gully erosion is the complexity of the process of gully formation and expansion in different climatic conditions and various human actions in exploiting soil, water and plant resources. Understanding and investigating factors contribute to the formation and development of gullies and determining the impact of each factor, can help provide the necessary solutions to predict, control and reduce damages. Considering the significant role of gully erosion in soil loss, especially in the Chaldoran region due to of its fertile agricultural lands and suitable pastures, this research aimed to determine the soil characteristics that influence the expansion of gullies in the region. To achieve this goal, 12 gullies in the study area were selected, and their geomorphometric parameters were measured. Soil samples were taken at distances of 25, 50 and 75% from the gully head at two depths: surface (0 to 30 cm) and subsurface (30 to 60 cm). The average soil properties at these depths for each gully were analyzed to assess their relationship with the geomorphometric characteristics of the gullies. The results showed that organic carbon had the highest correlation with the longitudinal and depth expansion of gullies with correlation coefficient of -0.76 and -0.81 respectively (p<0.01). Following organic matter, TNV and soil silt had the most significant impact on the longitudinal expansion of gullies with correlations of -0.80 and 0.74 (p < 0.01). Principal components analysis revealed that organic carbon, TNV and silt played a major role in differentiating gullies based on geomorphometric characteristics. Additionally, the relationship between the longitudinal expansion of gullies and certain soil characteristics such as silt, clay, sand, pH, organic carbon, and TNV could be explained by exponential and power nonlinear relationships.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 29 July 2023
  • Accept Date: 09 September 2023

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