Assessment of Forest Roads Sediment Yield using WARSEM, SEDMODL and Direct Measurement through Rainfall Simulation

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, I.R. Iran

2 PhD Student, Department of Watershed Management Engineering, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, I.R. Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Gorgan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Gorgan, I.R. Iran

Abstract
In this study, the sediment yield of forest roads of Darabkola watershed was investigated and
estimated using WARSEM and SEDMODEL. Rainfall simulator was applied to measure the
sediment of abovementioned roads directly. In order to apply WARSEM and SEDMODEL models,
field operations for measurement of different parameters including road length and width, height
and coverage of road cut-slope, road longitudinal slope, shape and configuration of the road, road
surface, and etc. were carried out in 63 different segments of the path of forest roads in the study
area as 11979 meters long. Then sediment yield of roads was measured by rainfall simulator with
nozzle of 3 meters high and plot of 2 square meters. Results of the WARSEM and SEDMODL
models and rainfall simulation showed that sediment yield of forest roads are equal to 9.918, 5.109,
and 4.141 kg/m2/year, respectively. Results also showed that there was no significant difference
between sediment yield of rainfall simulation and SEDMODEL at significance level of %95. It was
also revealed that SEDMODL is more suitable for estimating sediment yield of forest road with
values of RD, MD, BIAS, RE and RMSE equal to 21.42, 4.54, 0.04, 17.59 and 0.71, respectively.

Keywords


Volume 69, Issue 1
Spring 2016
Pages 167-186

  • Receive Date 13 March 2013
  • Revise Date 01 July 2016
  • Accept Date 20 February 2016
  • Publish Date 21 May 2016