Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Soil conservation and watershed management research institute, Agricultural Research and Education Organization, Tehran, Iran
3 Scientific Board, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, AREEO, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Some parts of “morpho-climatic classification of Iran's gullies” national project in Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute, refer to the amount of produced sediments and reclamation measures for their management and the amount of damages resulting from their development. The results of this research indicate that Iran's gullies are categorized in two classes, small (<1 m) and medium gullies (1-10 m). One meter of gully has produced 19 m3 of sediment. Generally, they are distributed in rainfed lands and rangelands with loam, sandy loam and clay loam soil textures. The most important causes of gully formation and development are rangeland destruction, rangeland change to cropland and garden, and non-proper road and culvert construction. The present research showed that more than 50% of Iranian gullies had no management and reclamation measures, so that in 90% of some provinces and 30-50% in other areas, no management measures have been taken. More mechanical measures such as loose rock dams, rock and cement dams and gabions dams with the aim of sediment trapping are taken in Iran's provinces. Most measures are taken in small gullies, but just a few in medium ones. Management measures for prevention of gully formation are negligible in rainfed lands and serious attention is recommended to be paid to the design and construction of culverts and roads in mountainous and steep areas. Biological methods, blankets and rip-rap methods are used less in Iran. Demolition and abandoned old Ab-anbars had a role in have gully formation and development.
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