Evaluation of the effect of biological watershed operations on the amount of sediment production using Connectivity Index in Hamedan Gonbad paired reagent station

Authors
Hadi Nazaripoya
R. Bahramloo
M. Sepehri
H.R. Peyrovan
S. Parvizi
E. Asgari
Watershed Research Department, Hamedan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
Soil erosion and related problems i.e. sedimentation are associated with significant issues and problems on the environment and agriculture, including economic losses, reduction of water quality, storage capacity of reservoirs and agricultural production, among which watershed activities play a prominent role in reducing the amount of soil erosion and sediment yield. For this purpose, in the present research, the watershed management activities were evaluated on the amount of sediment yield, using the Connectivity Index in the Gonbad paired catchment of Hamadan province. In this regard, firstly, the estimation of the continuity index was conducted in the erosion plots installed in the control and impacted watersheds during the events that led to sediment production. Then, a regression relationship was established between the data of the Connectivity Index and the erosion plots sediment yield using the Connectivity Index in order to estimate the rate of sediment yield of control and impacted watersheds. Finally, the impact of watershed practices on the degree of sediment yield was measured by comparing the estimated sediment in control and impacted areas using the Connectivity Index. The results showed that the average amount of sediment produced in the sample and control sub-basins is 0.003 and 0.005 tons per hectare, respectively, that is, the amount of sediment in the sample sub-basin is 45% less than the control sub-basin, and this difference is due to the effect of watershed management operations in the sample sub-basin.
Keywords
Biological practices
Erosion plot
Soil conservation
Watershed management
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