Abstract: Soil erosion is part of land degradation that affects physical and chemical properties of soil and
land productivity, which is resulted from inappropriate land use practices. The purpose of the
study was to assess the current status of physical and chemical properties of soil, and quantified
the rate of soil loss and map of erosion risk areas in Kamshty watershed. The Universal Soil Loss
Equation Model and Geographic Information Techniques were used to quantify mean annual soil
loss and map in the area. The composite soil samples were collected at 0-30 cm soil depth and
the laboratory analysis has been seen as the physical and chemical properties of soil are
significantly decreasing in the watershed. All of the analyzed soil properties were significantly
(P<0.05) in the watershed except organic matter, total nitrogen, and cation exchange capacity.
The soil loss in the study watershed area ranged between 0-260.45 t ha-1
year-1 with mean annual
soil loss rate of 26.04 t ha-1
year-1
. In the watershed area low to moderate erosion risk areas are
highly concentrated in southern and central-east and west parts, whereas high to severe erosion
hazardous areas are focused in the intensively farming hilly northern, central, and central-west
areas. In the study area (34.9 %) is categorized under high to sever erosion risk area with soil
loss rate ranged between 14.29-260.45 t ha -1
year -1
.Hence, large area of the watershed should be
implemented soil and water conservation measures. |