Analyzing the Changes of Soil Erodibility Index (K) in the Soils of Arid Regions and the Effective Factors in Central Iran (Case Study: Yazd-Ardakan Plain)

Abstract

One of the main factors of water erosion is the natural characteristics of the soil called "erodibility" or"detachability". The present study aims to analyze the variations of soil erodibility factor in different plains and thefactors related to it. Erodibility is one the key factors in some models of erosion and sediment such as Universal SoilLoss Equation (USLE), Revised USLE (RUSLE), and Modified USLE (MUSLE) and is a function of grain sizedistribution, organic matter, structure and infiltration. To this end, the index of soil erodibility was measured throughfield surveys in 37 spots in the faces of bare pediment, coalescing pediment, and concealed pediment plains usingWischmeier and Smith (1987) method. The infiltration of soil profile and the percentage of desert pavement in thefield were measured as well. Soil grain size distribution, percentage of organic matter, soil structure, gravelvolumetric content, lime, salinity, acidity, and sodium absorption rate were also measured in the laboratory. Thestatistical analysis indicated positive correlations of erodibility with silt, very fine sand (VFS), and negativecorrelation of this factor with gravel, sand, infiltration, organic matter, and lime. The results from Analysis ofVariance (ANOVA) test also indicated that three factors of salinity, acidity, and sodium absorption rate are notsignificantly different in bare pediment, coalescing pediment, and concealed pediment plains. The results suggestedthat in natural conditions of soil surface, desert pavement plays its protective role and land use change throughmixing the soil would thwart effect of the pavement. So, the erodibility of the soil in manipulated and mixedconditions increases up to 10 times.

Keywords

• geomorphology faces
• desert pavement
• water erosion
• erodibility