Study of Soil Erosion and Deposition in Gorgak Basin,  Chahar Mahal-e-Bakhtiary Province Using Cs -137 Technique

Honarjoo, N; Mahmoodi, Sh; Charkhabi, A.H; GHafoorian, H; Alimohammadi, A

Study of Soil Erosion and Deposition in Gorgak Basin, Chahar Mahal-e-Bakhtiary Province Using Cs -137 Technique

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

N Honarjoo

Sh Mahmoodi

A.H Charkhabi

H GHafoorian

A Alimohammadi

Abstract

In view of the many limitations associated with traditional approaches to documenting soil erosion and sedimentation rates, the potential for using fallout radionuclides as tracers in soil erosion investigations has been increasingly exploited. Most attention has been focused on caesium-137, and the successful use of this bomb-derived radionuclide in soil erosion studies has now been reported for many areas in the world. The main goal of this research was to study the 137Cs 3-D distribution pattern within the key sites and to apply the obtained information for the assessment of soil redistribution. Hence, one transect on a hill slope in Gorgak basin of Chahar Mahal-e- Bakhtiary province was selected and studied. Soils were sampled along the transect and analyzed for cesium-137. The estimated erosion rates was about 200 t/ha/yr for the top of the slope soil profile (the shoulder landform), and about 24.8 t/ha/yr for the middle of the slope soil profile (backslope landform). In the footslope landform no erosion has been observed.

Highlights

F. Zapata and E. Garcia-Agudo, “Future prospects for the 137Cs technique for estimating soil erosion and sedimentation rates,” ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, 35, No. 3-4, 197-205 (2000).
D. Pimentel and C. Harvey, “Ecological effects of soil srosion. in: Walker,” L.R.(ed.) Ecosystems of disturbed ground, Elsevier.Amesterdam, 123-135 (1999).
D.O. Schwab, D.D. Fangmeier, W.J. Elliot, R.K. Frevert, “Soil and water conservation engineering,” 4th Edition, John Willey and Sons, Inc.New York (1993).
P.J. Wallbrink, V. Belyaev, V.N. Golosov, A.S. Sidorchuk, A.S. Murray, “Use of radionuclide, field based and erosion modeling methods for quantifying rates and amounts of soil erosion processes,” CSIRO Land and Water consultancy report ( 2002).
Ping Yan, Peijun Shi, Shangyu Gao, Ling Chen, Xinbao Zhang, Lixin Bai, “137Cs dating of lacustrine sediments and human impacts on Dalian Lake,” Qinghai Province, China.Catena, 47, 91–99 (2002).
D.J. Pennock and E.de jong, “Rates of soil redistribution associated with soil zones and slope classes in Southern Saskachewan,” Can.J.Soil Sci., 70, 325-334 (1990).
P. Porto, D.E. Walling, V. Tamburinob, G. Callegaric, “Relating caesium-137 and soil loss from cultivated land,” Catena, 53, 303–326 (2003).
D.J. Pennock and E.de jong, “The Influence of slope curvature on soil erosion and deposition in hummock terrain,” Soil Science, 144, 209-217 (1987).
Bouhlassa, M. Moukhchane, A. Aiachi, “Estimates soil erosion and deposition of cultivated soil of nakhla watershed, Morocco , using Cs-137 technique and Calibration models,” ACTA GEOLOGIA HISPANICA, 35, 239-249 (2000).
P.J. Wallbrink, B.P. Roddy, J.M. Olley, “B.A tracer budget quantifying soil redistribution on hillslopes after forest harvesting,” Catena, 47, 179–201 ( 2002).
O.O.S. Bacchi, K. Reichard, G. Sparovek, S.B.L. Ranieri, “Soil erosion evaluation in a small watershed in Brazil through 137Cs fallout redistribution analysis and conventional models,” ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, 35, 251-259 (2000).
D.E. Walling and T.A. Quine, “Use of Caesium-137 as a tracer of erosion and sedimentation: Handbook for the Application of the Caesium-137 Technique,” Department of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, 15– 97 (1993).

Keywords

soil erosion

sedimentation

cesium-137

tracer

landforms

Chaharmahal-e-Bakhtiyari

fallout radionuclides

F. Zapata and E. Garcia-Agudo, “Future prospects for the 137Cs technique for estimating soil erosion and sedimentation rates,” ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, 35, No. 3-4, 197-205 (2000).
D. Pimentel and C. Harvey, “Ecological effects of soil srosion. in: Walker,” L.R.(ed.) Ecosystems of disturbed ground, Elsevier.Amesterdam, 123-135 (1999).
D.O. Schwab, D.D. Fangmeier, W.J. Elliot, R.K. Frevert, “Soil and water conservation engineering,” 4th Edition, John Willey and Sons, Inc.New York (1993).
P.J. Wallbrink, V. Belyaev, V.N. Golosov, A.S. Sidorchuk, A.S. Murray, “Use of radionuclide, field based and erosion modeling methods for quantifying rates and amounts of soil erosion processes,” CSIRO Land and Water consultancy report ( 2002).
Ping Yan, Peijun Shi, Shangyu Gao, Ling Chen, Xinbao Zhang, Lixin Bai, “137Cs dating of lacustrine sediments and human impacts on Dalian Lake,” Qinghai Province, China.Catena, 47, 91–99 (2002).
D.J. Pennock and E.de jong, “Rates of soil redistribution associated with soil zones and slope classes in Southern Saskachewan,” Can.J.Soil Sci., 70, 325-334 (1990).
P. Porto, D.E. Walling, V. Tamburinob, G. Callegaric, “Relating caesium-137 and soil loss from cultivated land,” Catena, 53, 303–326 (2003).
D.J. Pennock and E.de jong, “The Influence of slope curvature on soil erosion and deposition in hummock terrain,” Soil Science, 144, 209-217 (1987).
Bouhlassa, M. Moukhchane, A. Aiachi, “Estimates soil erosion and deposition of cultivated soil of nakhla watershed, Morocco , using Cs-137 technique and Calibration models,” ACTA GEOLOGIA HISPANICA, 35, 239-249 (2000).
P.J. Wallbrink, B.P. Roddy, J.M. Olley, “B.A tracer budget quantifying soil redistribution on hillslopes after forest harvesting,” Catena, 47, 179–201 ( 2002).
O.O.S. Bacchi, K. Reichard, G. Sparovek, S.B.L. Ranieri, “Soil erosion evaluation in a small watershed in Brazil through 137Cs fallout redistribution analysis and conventional models,” ACTA GEOLOGICA HISPANICA, 35, 251-259 (2000).
D.E. Walling and T.A. Quine, “Use of Caesium-137 as a tracer of erosion and sedimentation: Handbook for the Application of the Caesium-137 Technique,” Department of Geography, University of Exeter, Exeter, 15– 97 (1993).