Assessment of the Role of Water Erosion Intensity in Soil Property Alterations within the Framework of Sustainable Land Management in Arid Regions (Case Study: Sarbaz Watershed, Southeastern Iran)

Dahmardeh Ghaleno, Mohammad Reza; Saberi, Morteza

doi:10.22034/jdmal.2025.2067347.1509

Assessment of the Role of Water Erosion Intensity in Soil Property Alterations within the Framework of Sustainable Land Management in Arid Regions (Case Study: Sarbaz Watershed, Southeastern Iran)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad reza Dahmardeh ghaleno

Morteza Saberi

Associate Professor, Rangeland and Watershed Management Department, Faculty of Water and Soil, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

10.22034/jdmal.2025.2067347.1509

Abstract

The Sarbaz watershed—characterized by steep terrain, episodic intense rainfall, and sparse vegetation—exhibits a high susceptibility to severe water erosion. This research investigated how varying water‐erosion intensities affect the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of soils within the Sarbaz watershed. Soil sampling was conducted across four erosion‐intensity classes (none, low, moderate, severe) at a depth of 0–30 cm using a completely randomized design. Composite samples were analyzed via one‑way ANOVA in SPSS, and inter-parameter correlations were examined in R to identify significant statistical relationships. Increasing erosion intensity reduced clay content (26.4 → 18.1 %), increased bulk density (1.33 → 1.64 g cm⁻³), and lowered both porosity and gravimetric moisture (14.4 → 6.7 %). Chemically, substantial declines occurred in soil nutrients: SOC (11.87 → 2.03 g kg⁻¹), TN (0.93 → 0.17 g kg⁻¹), AP (18.5 → 4.2 mg kg⁻¹), and AK (279 → 102 mg kg⁻¹). Biological indices, including catalase activity, microbial biomass, and basal respiration—also decreased markedly under higher erosion intensities. The decline in microbial carbon relative to total carbon indicated reduced microbial participation in carbon stabilization and biogeochemical cycling. Overall, water erosion substantially degraded soil structure and functionality, with the most pronounced impacts on organic matter and microbial biomass—two critical determinants of biological sustainability and fertility. Therefore, scientifically grounded management and conservation strategies are indispensable for preserving and restoring the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of soils across the Sarbaz watershed, constituting a foundational step toward sustainable land management in this arid environment.

Keywords

Soil stability, arid and semi-arid soils, biogeochemical cycle, microbial activity, catalase enzyme

Subjects