Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Abstract Land use changes in countries like Iran, which is facing space limitations, should be thoughtful and in accordance with proper planning, just like water consumption. On the other hand, the inherent dynamism of human beings and their needs has made the way and extent of land use change over time. Therefore, the aim of this research is the dynamic modeling of land use changes based on the human-environmental system in Taleghan watershed. For this purpose, land use maps for the years 1994, 1999, 2002, 2009, 2014, 2019 were classified into six classes of pasture, forest, agricultural land, barren land, residential land, and water using Landsat satellite time series images. After the validation of the maps and the detection of changes, under the three scenarios of current economic growth, rapid economic growth and sustainable development, simulation was carried out until 1435 using dynamic system modeling. The results of detecting land use changes during the period show that the trend of changes in agricultural lands, pastures, forests, has been decreasing, and barren lands and residential areas have always had an increasing trend during the survey period. The results of the simulation show that among the three scenarios examined, the sustainable development scenario of coordination between the amount of land utilization and meeting the needs of the community and economic growth has been acceptable. Therefore, it can be concluded that the sustainable development scenario is an important basis for land use planning in the coming years in order to reduce the destruction of natural resources and maintain a stable state in it, and this scenario will bring favorable economic growth in the future.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the effect of land use changes from rangeland to horti-agricultural lands on the most important qualitative characteristics of soil such as total soil carbon and particulate organic matter, in Salavatabad region, Sanandaj. In the present study, one rangeland, two cultivated pea lands, two cultivated wheat lands and two gardens were selected in growth season in the end of spring, 2014. Forty two soil samples were taken randomly and systematically from the study region. Then, soil micro- and macro aggregates were separated using 0.25 mm and 2 mm sieves. Total soil carbon and particulate organic matter of soil samples were measured in the laboratory. The results showed that land use changes from rangeland to horti-agriculture significantly decreased total carbon and particulate organic matter in micro-aggregates. While total carbon and particulate organic matter in macro-aggregates was not changed by land use changes from rangeland to horticultural land. We suggested that if rangeland will be converted into agricultural land, horticultural land is the best for land use changes. 

Abstract Development impact assessment is key to achieving a comprehensive planning aligned with land
sustainability. In human and natural systems studies, changes can be simultaneously examined in
two different systems. The purpose of this paper is to understand the effects of dam construction on
land prices and land use change in nearby villages of Taleghan Dam. Descriptive - qualitative
statistics were used in this research and library and field methods were used for collecting the
required information. In order to specify the land value of the four villages of the area of the dam
for four decaes, based on the prices of the year 1390, the land vlue formula was applied. Also, TM
satellite images of 1379 and 1386 were used for pinpointing land use changes. The results of these
studies indicate that dam construction in 1380s and 1390s increased land price significantly and
changes in land price affected upon land use changes in nearby villages of dam and the price of land
in the Zydasht village overlooking the dam increased dramatically.Based on the results of this
research, it can be stated that the dynamics of the land use of the area was affected by land price
that for achieving sustainability in the watershed, an effective law must be enforced to prevent land
degradation and control land prices.

Abstract Land use change is one of the main factors in the process of changing the regime of flood in watersheds. Taleghan watershed has been subjected to many land use changes over years, which probably effects on flood characteristics of Taleghan River. In present study the effects of land use change on some parameters including peak flow, volume and flood base time, in part of Taleghan basin, was investigated by using Geographical Information System (GIS) and HEC-HMS model. Land use maps of 1987 and 2002 were prepared and integrated with soil hydrological groups and pasture conditions maps in GIS with the aim of providing of CN map. Then by using curve number and SCS unit hydrograph in sub basins and also Muskingum routing method,  HEC-HMS model was calibrated and validated, for 10 incident rainfall - runoff views. Results of the simulation showed that due to the changes in land use (the reduction in the level of agricultural lands and increases in pasture areas), peak flow and flood volume in 2002 than in 1987 showed the average reduction of 46% and 34%, respectively. The evaluation of base time of flood showed no change in the parameter in flood hydrograph at the study period. On the whole the results showed that the trend of land use changes have the positive effect on reducing flood productions in study area.