Yahya Parvizi; Mahmood Arabkhedri; Mosayeb Heshmati; Mohammad Gheitury
Abstract
Soil degradation and erosion caused by human factors is the main threat to the functions of soil resources. The consequences of this phenomenon are reducing the sustainability and quality of production as well as environmental problems. Also, moisture stress, especially in rainfed lands, is a major limitation ...
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Soil degradation and erosion caused by human factors is the main threat to the functions of soil resources. The consequences of this phenomenon are reducing the sustainability and quality of production as well as environmental problems. Also, moisture stress, especially in rainfed lands, is a major limitation to improve productivity in these lands. The use of subsurface water harvesting is one of the options that is prevalent in Zagros provinces, due to topographic and geological conditions. This research was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the operation of the traditional system of land use change of dryland to grape, almond and alfalfa cultivation with supplementary irrigation using subsurface water harvesting system in improving soil permeability and inhibition of soil degradation and erosion in the Razin Watershed of Kermanshah Province. To do this, after selecting the study area, some of the diagnostic features of selected area including the soil permeability with the disk permeameter and the soil degradation and erosion condition with GLADIS method were measured by field measurements in the study area as well as the control area. In the laboratory, soil texture, bulk density, saturation percentage, lime, acidity, salinity, nutrient concentration and organic carbon storage were measured the soil samples collected in the operation and control area. The results showed that the hidden form of erosion, the gradual washing of fine particles and the coarse grains of gravel and pebbles remaining known as Armor, is the most important form of erosion in the region. In the long term, the construction of this system was able to remove this form of erosion and loss of soil from the region. Also, exploitation of the underground dam system and extraction of subsurface water harvesting within its scope, in addition to enhancing all soil quality indicators (including its organic carbon accumulation), resulted in a 23% increase in soil permeability capacity and soil erosion has inhibited 5.56 tons per hectare.
Mohammad Gheitury; Mosayeb Heshmati; Yahya Parvizi; Mahmoh Arabkhedri; Mahmod Tabatabaei; Khosroo Shahbazi
Abstract
Now a day, carbon sequestration is an important issue due to its serious role on global warming. The aim of this research was to evaluate mechanical measure of check dams on vegetation cover and soil carbon storage in watersheds of Kermanshah Province, Iran. These check dams were constructed in the drainage ...
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Now a day, carbon sequestration is an important issue due to its serious role on global warming. The aim of this research was to evaluate mechanical measure of check dams on vegetation cover and soil carbon storage in watersheds of Kermanshah Province, Iran. These check dams were constructed in the drainage systems to reduce surface runoff velocity and optimize channel slope. Small sedimentary dams are made by gabions and dry structures. The soil and vegetation characteristics of the areas under mechanical operation and its control (severe grazing and grazing management) by field survey in selected sites of Gilan Ghab, Kangavar and Sarfirozabad. The plant biomass including canopy cover and plant root as well as plant litter were samplled along transect path using the quadrat plot. 36 soil sampls were collected from 0-20 cm of soil depths and were air dried and sieved through two milimeter mesh and analyzed in the soil laboratory. Soil organic carbon was measured by the Walkley and Black method and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS software (version 19). Results showed that both mechanical (check dams) contributed to store 49.28 tonha-1 of carbon which was significantly lower than biological measures. It was concluded that vegetation cover has the most effects on carbon sequestration of the rangelands compared to mechanical methods.
Mosayeb Heshmati; Mohammad Ghaietury; Mahmood Arabkhedri; Yahya Parvizi
Abstract
Forest and land use change has many negative consequences including increased flooding, erosion, sedimentation and dust storms. The aim of the research was thus to investigate the effects of land use change in Zagros forests on erodibility and sedimentation via soil quality reduction in some forests ...
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Forest and land use change has many negative consequences including increased flooding, erosion, sedimentation and dust storms. The aim of the research was thus to investigate the effects of land use change in Zagros forests on erodibility and sedimentation via soil quality reduction in some forests of Kermanshah Province, Iran. In order to achieve this aim, in the first step, afforest area and its adjacent rain-fed farm (which is developed during recent 10 years a result of forest land change), were selected and 35 soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0-20 cm). Then, the physico-chemical analyses were done on the soil samples. In the next step, soil erodibility factor was calculated and sediment yield was assessed using portable rainfall simulator. The results showed that six key properties of soil including soil aggregate stability, bulk density, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total absorbable potassium and cation exchange capacity were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by land use type. Additionally, in all tested samples, the total clay and silt content was about 80%, which resulted in the formation of soil with heavy texture. Subsequently soil erodibility factor (K) and sediment yield intensity in rain-fed farm was found significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of forest. According to the results and the role of Zagros forest ecosystem on water harvesting, aquifer recharge, flood and dust control, the current trend of changing forest landuse to arable lands accompanying improper tillage practice, crops residue burning and heavy machinery traffic in nearby rain-fed farms, cause accelerating global warming, increasing runoff coefficient and evaporation as well as water scarcity in future.
Mohammad Gheitury; Mosayeb Heshmati; Mohammad Roughani
Abstract
Water resources scarcity is the negative impact of climate change, which is more severe in arid and semi-arid regions, including Iran. However, harvesting water through micro-catchment is one of the possible issues for combating this problem. This research was conducted in Kaboodeh-Olya Village to compare ...
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Water resources scarcity is the negative impact of climate change, which is more severe in arid and semi-arid regions, including Iran. However, harvesting water through micro-catchment is one of the possible issues for combating this problem. This research was conducted in Kaboodeh-Olya Village to compare the effects of three different micro catchment systems on runoff harvesting and increasing soil moisture. The experimental plots were constructed at a 20% hill slope in northern direction. Research was carried out in randomized experimental block with tree replications. Micro catchments were constructed in rhomboid-shape (1.7×1.7 m) and treatments included plastic with pebble pavement (PPP), compacted surface soil with crop residue (CSCR) and control plot (CP) which was a natural surface soil. The harvested runoff from each plot was stored in a container with 100 litter capacity at the downward. The valium of overland flow was measured after each rainfall occurrence. Results demonstrated that harvested runoff rates through PPP, CSCR and CP were 88, 44 and 16 percent, respectively indicating significant effects (p<0.05) of both PPP and CSCR on runoff harvesting. Furthermore, the effective rainfall for triggering runoff at the PPP, CSCR and CP were 0.8, 1.5 and 3.4 mm that significantly was lower in PPP. Consequently, in limited CSCR building, the SSS can be used for maximum runoff harvesting and soil moisture storage.
Mosayeb Heshmati; Yayah Parvizi; Mohamad Gheitury; Mojtaba Sanee; Samad Shadfar; Masud Goodarzi
Abstract
Abstract: land degradation, air pollution, food deficient, poverty as well as inequality are the main challenges worldwide. However, overcome these challenges are impossible without local inhabitants’ participation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the watershed management measures ...
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Abstract: land degradation, air pollution, food deficient, poverty as well as inequality are the main challenges worldwide. However, overcome these challenges are impossible without local inhabitants’ participation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the watershed management measures which measured through joint project by Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Organization (FRWM) and Middle East and North Africa Regions Program for Integrated Development (MENARID) in Razin watershed, Kermanshah, Iran during 2013-16. Local inhabitants were interviewed using questionnaire. The results explored that constructed measures comprise the pit- seeding, rain-fed orchard, stony dam, gabion and dyke. However, most of respondents did not agree with biological measures (pit- seeding, rain-fed orchard) due to limitation for their animal grazing, persuading land-use change and enhancing conflicts among them, while rare inhabitants were willing to rain-fed orchard due to their expects on rangeland ownership and loan opportunity. Approximately 85% of local people confirmed that they did not consult or collaborated during watershed management measures, although they had environmental friend ideas. They believed that mechanical measures are impossible solutions in terms of soil conservation, flood control, runoff harvesting and supplemental irrigation. Overall, local communities worried about climate change and its sever negative impacts on agricultural activities and livelihood, thus watershed management and governance should be taken urgent steps overcome or adapting hits of droughts due to their literacy and experience during recent years. It is concluded that local inhabitant's ideas and their participations should be considered as the necessary step to obtain the effective results and sustaining watershed management measures.