Subdividing Large Mountainous Watersheds into Smaller Hydrological Units to Predict Soil Loss and Sediment Yield Using the GeoWEPP Model

Özalp, Mehmet; Yüksel, Esin Erdoğan; Yıldırımer, Saim

doi:10.15244/pjoes/69171

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Literature shows that there are examples of different watersheds in which WEPP and other erosion prediction models were used and resulted in similar sediment and soil loss values to the predicted values gathered from this study. For example, in the Godrahav Creek Watershed, with an area of 5298.21 ha, annual average amounts of soil loss and sediment yield per unit area were predicted to be 1.73 t ha-1y-1 and 1.86 t ha-1y-1, respectively, by the GeoWEPP model (Ozalp, Erdoğan Yüksel & Yıldırımer, 2017). In another study in the Artvin-Kokolet Creek watershed with an area of 4057.02 ha, it was estimated that the total soil loss was 23559 ton/year, the sediment yield was 10225.3 ton/year and the loss that occurred on the basis of per unit area (ha) was 2.52 ton/ha/year.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Soil Erosion Status of the Düz Creek Watershed in Artvin

Yüksel

Özalp

Yıldırımer

2019

Kastamonu Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi

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Aim of study: Main objective of this research was to predict some of the processes (soil loss, runoff and sediment yield) related to soil erosion with the help of WEPP (Water Erosion Prediction Project) model. Area of study: The WEPP model was applied to the Düz Creek Watershed (1059 ha in size). It is a subwatershed flowing into the greater Çoruh River Basin near the district of Borçka, Artvin. Material and methods: As required by the WEPP model, four large-data files of soil, climate, slope and plant cover/management were created for the watershed using the data gathered from in-field samplings (soil), laboratory analyses and GIS (Geographical Information Systems) assessments. For easier run and detailed investigation of soil erosion process of the research area, the studied watershed was divided into eight small hydrological units (SHUs) and the program was run on these SHUs. Main results: At the end of GeoWEPP's run, the results revealed that a total of about 735 mm annual precipitation was fell within the study area. The model also predicted that there was approximately 207 mm as runoff out of this amount of precipitation, which, in turn, generated an annual total soil loss and sediment amounts as 2815.2 t and 2720.9 t, respectively. In addition, the sediment yield per unit area was estimated to be around 2.57 ton/ha/yr while the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was found to be as 0.977. Lastly, the model predicted that the particle distribution of eroded sediment were 20%, 25% and 55% of clay, silt and sand, respectively, while the mean organic matter (OM) amount of the lost sediment was about 5% for the studied watershed. Highlights: Soil loss and sediment yield can be calculated for large areas in a short time and with little cost.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Soil Erosion Status of the Düz Creek Watershed in Artvin

Yüksel

Özalp

Yıldırımer

2019

Kastamonu Üniversitesi Orman Fakültesi Dergisi

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“…Land use is one of the main determinants of surface runoff, soil loss, and sediment yield in a basin [35] …”

Section: Comparison Of Soil Loss and Soil Properties In Slopes Accordmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Forest Road Construction on Topsoil Erosion and Hydro-Physical Soil Properties in a Semi-Arid Mountainous Ecosystem in Turkey

Hacisalihoglu¹,

Gümüş²,

Kezik³

et al. 2018

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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This study aimed at pointing out the environmental importance of road construction in a semi-arid high mountainous area on soil erosion and some important soil properties throughout the forest road. In total 60 soil samples in both forest and open area were collected from topsoil (0-20 cm) of a cut slope, fill slope, and control points along with a forest road route. The soil properties were determined in the laboratory and the soil loss amounts were determined by way of an Allgemeine Boden Abtrags Gleichung (ABAG) simulation model.As a result, the road construction phase significantly changed (p<0.001) the soil erosion trend. Annual soil loss amounts (t/ha/yr.) determined cut slope > fill slope > control in both forest and open areas. Consequently, road construction efforts significantly affected topsoil loss and some soil properties such as organic matter, available water-holding capacity, and bulk density. According to the created scenario, under the same slope (68.72%) and slope length (3.26 m) conditions, the highest soil loss trend was in cut slope, which was significantly different (p<0.001) from fill slope and control in forested and open areas.

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“…Several investigators have used the RUSLE model to estimate soil loss in neighboring countries (i.e., Iran [49][50][51][52][53][54][55] and Turkey [56,57]), and have applied RUSLE to determine the Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) [55,58]. However, RUSLE and SY models have not been used in the Kurdistan Region, north of Iraq, for soil loss estimation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Insight on Soil Loss Estimation in the Northwestern Region of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt

Othman¹,

Obaid

Ali

et al. 2021

IJGI

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Soil loss is one of the most important causes of land degradation. It is an inevitable environmental and socio-economic problem that exists in many physiographic regions of the world, which, besides other impacts, has a direct bearing on agricultural productivity. A reliable estimate of soil loss is critical for designing and implementing any mitigation measures. We applied the widely used Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in the Khabur River Basin (KhRB) within the NW part of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt (ZFTB). The areas such as the NW Zagros range, characterized by rugged topography, steep slope, high rainfall, and sparse vegetation, are most susceptible to soil erosion. We used the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD), and Landsat imagery to estimate annual soil loss using the RUSLE model. In addition, we estimated sediment yield (SY) at sub-basin scale, in the KhRB where a number of dams are planned, and where basic studies on soil erosion are lacking. Estimation of SY will be useful in mitigation of excessive sedimentation affecting dam performance and watershed management in this region. We determined the average annual soil loss and the SY in the KhRB to be 11.16 t.ha−1.y−1 and 57.79 t.ha−1.y−1, respectively. The rainfall and runoff erosivity (R factor), slope length (L factor), and slope steepness (S factor), are the three main factors controlling soil loss in the region. This is the first study to determine soil loss at the sub-basin scale along with identifying suitable locations for check dams to trap the sediment before it enters downstream reservoirs. The study provides valuable input data for design of the dams to prevent excessive siltation. This study also aims at offering a new approach in relating potential soil erosion to the actual erosion and hypsometric integrals.

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Subdividing Large Mountainous Watersheds into Smaller Hydrological Units to Predict Soil Loss and Sediment Yield Using the GeoWEPP Model

Cited by 9 publications

References 29 publications

Predicting Soil Erosion Status of the Düz Creek Watershed in Artvin

Predicting Soil Erosion Status of the Düz Creek Watershed in Artvin

Impact of Forest Road Construction on Topsoil Erosion and Hydro-Physical Soil Properties in a Semi-Arid Mountainous Ecosystem in Turkey

New Insight on Soil Loss Estimation in the Northwestern Region of the Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt

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