Nibal Alsaleh(1)*, Monuif Bouhasson(1) and Sami Alhennawi(1)
(1). General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research –Damscus, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. Nibal ALsaleh. E-Mail: nibalmalsaleh@gmail.com ).
Received: 12/2/2024 Accepted: 25/5/2024
Abstract
Water erosion is considered one of the most important problems facing agricultural soil in mountainous areas. In order to manage this problem, it is essential to estimate its rates and its spatial distribution. This study was conducted in Wady Atil watershed in western side of Jabal AL-Arab in swaida governorate south-western Syria, during the period 2017-2020. This study aims at estimate water erosion rates in the watershed, determine the spatial distribution of water erosion, and determine the factors affecting it. The study was conducted by using Erosion Potential Model (EPM), GIS, satellite data and field measurements. Results showed that water erosion rates ranged between 271.7-3172.2 m₃/km²/year. Meanwhile 43.8% of the watershed area was classified as severe erosion, these areas concentrated in the eastern part, 56% was classified as moderate erosion, these areas concentrated in the western part of the watershed. Results of the statistical analysis indicated that the EPM indicators combined affect water erosion rates by 83%. Rainfall has the largest role in determining erosion rates, followed by soil, slopes, vegetation, then temperature.
Keywords: water erosion, EPM, GIS, Watershed.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF