Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Physicochemical properties and the forms of erosion of marl formations as well studied in this experiment within Zanjanrud watershed basin. At first, the distribution and erosion landscape maps for different marl formation were prepared and then by overlying different maps the final map of working units were produced. Soil samples from selected points within each working unit were collected and after laboratory measurements statistical analyses were applied. The results suggested that surface and sheet erosion were more dominated than other forms of erosion. While gypsum content was concentrated at surface, some elements such as Ca, Mg, and dissolved Na subsided in lower layers. Marl units account for 20% of the total area of the basin, which consists of two types of Marl Pliocene (Plm) (99.75%) and the upper Red marl (Mur) (0.25%). In this basin, there are four superficial erosional facies, surface,rill, badland and gully erosin, with the rill erosion facies having the highest and most expanse of 61%. Toward the deeper layers in marl soils level of salinity, pH and clay percentage increases as the result of leaching of salts and fine material by runoff and transferring them from surface to depth. There is statistical significant difference in the amount of EC, clay, limestone, and gypsum among various forms of erosion, so that the highest and lowest level of EC were found respectively in deep gully and upper layers of surface erosions. Highest content of gypsum was found in badland erosion while the lowest of that was found in surface erosion. Therefore, changes of chemical properties are mostly found in surface and badland erosions. Finally, prevention of these two types of erosion must be prioritized because they can be precursors to other forms of erosion in this type of marl soil.

Keywords

• Marl
• erosion
• watershed
• Zanjanrud
• physicochemical