Evaluating the effective plants’ ability to control gully erosion (Case Study: Konar Takhteh Region, Fars Province, Iran)

Subject Areas : Optimal management of water and soil resources

Akbar Farhadi ¹ (Ph.D. Student, Department of Forest, Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Hasan Ahmadi ² (Professor of Department of Reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Regions, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.)
Baharak Motamedvaziri ³ (Associate Professor, Department of Forest, Range and Watershed Management, Faculty Natural Resources and Environmental, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Abolfazl Moeini ⁴ (Assistant Professor, Department of Forest, Range and Watershed Management, Faculty Natural Resources and Environmental, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)

Received: 2022-03-16 Accepted : 2023-01-20 Published : 2023-03-21

Keywords: Konar Takhteh, Biological controlling, Atriplex canescens, gully erosion, Ziziphus spina-christ,

Abstract :

Background and Aim: Gully erosion is one of the types of water and intensified erosion, which causes a significant change in the landscape and environment. Although engineering methods are important for erosion control, biological methods are very efficient and low-cost methods for soil erosion. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the characteristics of plant organs for erosion ability, which has yet to be studied. Thus, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability of native plants to slow gully erosion in the semi-arid Konar Takhteh region in Fars province. Method: Based on four criteria of resistance to concentrated erosive flow, the ability to stabilize the walls, the bending threshold due to water flow, and the ability to trap suspended load, and by using five quantitative indices, the power of plants to control gully erosion is evaluated. The comparison and scoring of plants are done based on the above criteria and based on multi-criteria analysis. After measuring the indices of stem density (SD), sediment obstruction  potential (SOP), plant stiffness (MEI), relative soil detachment rate (RSD) and root cohesion (Cr), each index is divided into five grades according to the scale (zero is the lowest and four are the highest). In the following, the score of each index is shown in a radar chart. Finally, in order to evaluate better, different species to control the gully erosion, the occupied surface of radar chart is examined. Results: The measurement results of SD, SOP, MEI, RSD and Cr indices for Ziziphus spina-christi species equal to 0.0027, 0.097, 108, 0.398 and 8.34 kPa, respectively, which demonstrates the best performance in comparison with other species. Overall, with a total of 18 points, it is the most suitable specie to control ditch erosion. Atriplex canescens with 13 points is in the second place and the other species are in the next places with lower performance. Conclusion: Species such as Ziziphus spina-christi and Atriplex canescens may be beneficial in the revitalization and development of vegetation in the region due to their adaptation to the climate, dry conditions of the region, their resistance to concentrated currents as well as the stabilization of the gullies’ wall. The use of a combination of plant species is helpful in controlling erosion due to their different capabilities. Therefore, it is recommended to use perennial and herbaceous resistant indigenous species for biological combat against intensifying erosions, especially gully erosion in semi-arid areas. It is suggested to use the findings of this research in other semi-arid regions of the country.

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