Abstract
Erosion is a key factor for sustainability of land management. This study aimed to determine the spatial distribution of estimated total soil loss amount and erosion severity in the Oltu Anzav Watershed located in the East of Anatolia, Turkey. This study was conducted by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based on Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) method. Topsoil samples (0-30 cm) were collected in 129 sites and analyzed for soil erosivity factor (K). Furthermore, the spatial distribution of potential estimated soil losses that may occur was mapped with the modeling using different scenarios in the future. Five different erosion risk groups have been determined as slight, moderate, severe, very severe and extreme, in the watershed area. As a result, the average surface soil loss was estimated as 24.44 ton ha-1year-1. Also, two different scenarios were created to estimate soil losses in the future in this study. According to the first scenario, if rehabilitation processes are implemented in the degraded forest area, soil loss was estimated as 7.33 tones ha-1year-1. In the second scenario, if any measures are not taken for soil erosion and flood control, soil loss was estimated as 58.63 ton ha-1year-1. Finally, sedimentation should be reduced in the watershed by erosion and flood control projects and applications. Key words: Erosion, erosion risk maps, Anzav basin, revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), geographical information systems (GIS).
Highlights
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems in Turkey and in the world
The slope map was constructed from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map (Figure 6)
In order to determine the amount of soil loss and its spatial distribution in the Oltu Anzav Basin, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) method, which is one of the most used methods, was used
Summary
Soil erosion is one of the most serious environmental problems in Turkey and in the world. It is estimated that the half of total land areas are affected by serious erosion problem in Turkey (CEMGM, 2018). The results of poor land management practices causes an increase in erosion problems and destroys the natural balance of soil. This deterioration can cause many problems directly or indirectly, such as deterioration of river regimes, disappearance of wetlands, shortening of reservoir life, sediment accumulation in agricultural lands, increase of flooding events and water pollution (Karabulut and Kucukonder, 2008; Zengin et al, 2009; Aydin, 2009; Bouaziz et al, 2011; Sonmez et al, 2013)
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