Comparison of Wind Erosion Potential and Intensity between Arable and Non-arable Lands in Mokhtaran Plain

Rouhi-Moghaddam, Einollah; Dehghani, Morteza

doi:10.22111/jneh.2025.50568.2089

Comparison of Wind Erosion Potential and Intensity between Arable and Non-arable Lands in Mokhtaran Plain

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Range and Watershed, Faculty of Water and Soil, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

² M.Sc. Department of Drought and Climate Change, University of Birjand , Birjand, Iran

10.22111/jneh.2025.50568.2089

Abstract

Soil erosion is considered one of the most important factors in the lack of development in arid and semi-arid regions. To carry out the management and executive operations to control and reduce the adverse effects of wind erosion, the erosion potential and the factors affecting it must be identified. In this study, the Mokhtaran watershed was selected as one of the most important watersheds in South Khorasan Province with an area of 242701 hectares and the wind erosion potential of agricultural and non-agricultural lands has been determined using the capabilities and features of ArcGIS 9.3 software. For this purpose, based on field observations, Landsat satellite images, and Google Earth, land use and morphology of areas affected by wind erosion were determined. Then, the parameters related to wind erosion in agricultural and non-agricultural lands, such as morphological, geological, land use, soil, and wind characteristics, were determined based on base maps, field visits, interviews with local communities, and sampling and analysis. Finally, the wind erosion potential of these lands was determined for each geomorphological unit using the IRIFR model. The results showed that the potential degree of wind sediments and their volume in agricultural lands are much lower than in non-agricultural lands. The assessment of the erosion potential of agricultural lands has shown that rainfed lands have a greater erosion potential than irrigated lands and orchards and in terms of erosion intensity, these lands are classified as medium and lower erosion levels. Also, among non-agricultural lands, the flat sandy land facies and floodplain areas have the highest and the stream bed deposits facies have the lowest degree of wind sedimentation potential. In terms of the total volume of wind-blown sediments, concerning area, the floodplain facies have the highest amount and the streambed deposits facies have the lowest amount.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Environmental Hazards

References

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