Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Pedogeomorphic evolution of an alluvial fan in central Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Omid Bayat 1
Hamid Karimzadeh 2
Mostafa Eghbal 3
Hossein Khademi 4

1 Department of Soil Science, Agriculture College, Isfahan University of Technology, Iran

2 Department of Range and Watershed Management/ College of Natural Resources/ Isfahan University of Technology

3 Department of Soil Science/ Tarbiat Modares University

4 Department of Soil Science/ Isfahan University of Technology

https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2013.35572
Abstract
Despite of suitable geological and climatic conditions for forming and evolution of alluvial fans and importance of this landform as soil and water resources in arid regions, there are limited studies about this landform in Iran. In the present study, evolution and pedogenic development of geomorphic surfaces of an alluvial fan in Eastern Isfahan were studied by using remote sensing, field and laboratory analyses. Results show that watershed of studied alluvial fan was tectonically active and two main depositional events were occurred for fans of Eastern Isfahan. Geomorphic surfaces were identified according to topographic position and pedogenic development. Geomorphic surfaces of studied alluvial fan were identified using topographic position, dissection rate and pedogenic development of soils. Using of dissection index for geomorphic surfaces suggest that this index is more expedient for use in active surfaces. Soils on geomorphic surfaces are calcareous with distinctive carbonates morphology. Results of dissection index are in corroboration with carbonates morphology in soils of geomorphic surfaces. So, morphology of pedogenic carbonates can be considered as an index of relative age of geomorphic surfaces. Usage of clay accumulation index also show great corroboration with results of dissection index and morphology of carbonates and application of this index is recommended for paleosols. Suggested systems for paleosol classification truly able to classify paleosols and application of these modern models recommend for other regions.

Keywords

Geomorphic surfaces
Tectonic
soils
Arid regions
Isfahan
Journal of Range and Watershed Managment
Volume 66, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Summer 2013
Pages 191-206

  • Receive Date 08 November 2010
  • Revise Date 11 November 2013
  • Accept Date 21 December 2012
  • Publish Date 22 June 2013

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