Suitable interpolation methods for zoning of interrill erodibility of ‎WEPP model and some soil properties using geostatistics and remote ‎sensing data

Understanding the spatial distribution and variability of erodibility and soil properties is essential for planning of water conservation methods, controlling of flood and runoff and managing of soil erosion or watershed. Selecting and using appropriate interpolation techniques for soil properties and erodibility mapping by erosion models such as WEPP is essential. The objective of this study was regionalization of interrill erodibility and effective factors like clay, organic matter and lime using kriging and cokriging and remote sensing data (Landsat 7). For this purpose, 100 soil samples were selected randomly from 0-15 cm depth of Selin watershed in Kaleibar region of East Azerbaijan. Interrill erodibility of WEPP model and some soil properties as clay, organic matter and lime were measured. Correlation analysis between soil properties and digital number (DN) ETM image showed that clay, organic matter, lime and interrill erodibility had the highest correlation with DN of Band 7, 1, 1 and 3 ETM image (−0.406, -0.431, 0.291 and 0.299), respectively. Therefore, the DN of these bands used as auxiliary data for cokriging estimator. The spherical model was fitted the best model to calculate variogram of interrill erodibility, clay, organic matter and lime. No significant difference were noted between kriging and cokriging despite using remote sensing data as auxiliary data. This can be attributed no strong correlation between interrill erodibility, clay, organic matter and lime and remote sensing data.