Assessment the impact of topographic and soil characteristics on bank gullies dvancement in croplands, case study: Ilam province

Gully erosion has an important role in land degradation producing much sediment. Due to development of gully erosion in crop lands of study area, this research deals with assessing the topographic characteristics of bank gullies and assess on effective soil factors controlling gullies advancement in Siekan watershed in Ilam province. For this purpose, 46 bank gullies were selected and morphometric characteristics like initial and advancement contributing area and slope as well were measured. Two compound soil samples were collected from top soil of contributing area and gullies walls then analyzed in the soil lab. Then database formed and effective factors on gullies advancement were recognized by correlation matrix and regression. Correlation matrix results revealed, the higher slope the higher head-cut and gullies volume. A-S relationship is negative and b is 0.31 that shows gullies formed by hortonian overland flow process. Topographic threshold is 0.04 and mean threshold in 10% slope is 0.05 ha and in 2% slope is 2 ha. Critical threshold in 2% slope is 0.07 ha. Correlation matrix showed that increase in gully advancement slope increases head–cut height and gully volume. The index of area of development/ area of initiation is suitable for gully development stage determination and it has negative relationship with gully length, volume and width/depth index. Increasing in soil organic matter cause an increase in topographical threshold, soil texture and electrical conductivity increase the gully volume. The effect of both topographical parameters and soil material characteristics on total eroded bank gully volume was integrated in multiple regression equations. The models based on all measured parameters explain 85% of the variation in gullies volume.