Risk Assessment and Mapping of Desertification in Bostaq Plain, Southern Khorasan with Emphasis on the Key Criteria of Soil and Water

Authors

10.22052/6.15.59

Abstract

Today, degradation of soil and water resources are the most important factors of desertification in arid and semi-arid areas as a result of mismanagement and improper human behavior. Enforcement measures in relation to desertification control have to be based on knowledge of the current state of desertification risk and its severity. In the present study, to evaluate the risk and severity of desertification in Bostaq Plain in Southern Khorasan Province, two key criteria of water and soil were used in the IMDPA model, each having four indices. To this end, indices were scored and then averaged (geometric mean) to form the final desertification map in Arc GIS 10.2. Results of the study showed that in terms of water criteria, electric conductivity (EC) with geometric mean of 3.33 and in terms of soil, surface stone cover with mean of 2.69 were the critical desertification indices in the region. Total desertification status could be further divided into two classes of 96.29% (22111.74 ha) as medium and 3.7% (849.63 ha) as severe. Generally, Bostaq Plain with geometric mean of 2.13 was in the medium desertification class and is due to protection and development of desertification management strategies which can reduce the effects of desertification and should be implemented in managerial practices in the Bostaq plain.
 

Keywords


1. Ahmadi, H., Zehtabian, Gh. R., Jafari, M., Azarnivand, H., Fieznia, S. 2008. The assessment model of potential desertification. Department of the arid areas rehabilitation, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tehran University, 480 pp. 2. Akbari, M., Karimzadeh, H. R., Modares, R., Chakoshi, B. 2009. Desertification assessment and classification using remote sensing and geographic information system in and arid area north of Isfahan. Journal of Range and Desert Research of Iran 14, 142-124. 3. Bayat, Zahra. 2013. Evaluation of desertification using IMDPA in a lowland meadow in Sharekord. MS Thesis, University of Semnan, College of the Desert. 4. Fatahi, A. 2015. Desertification risk assessment in the arid region south of Semnan Province using IMDPA model. MSc Thesis, College of desert, Semnan University. 5. Fatahi, A., Azad, B., Ara, H. 2017. Desertification Assessment By Using Water Criterion In Iran’s Centeral Arid Regions. Journal of Applied Environmental and Biological Sciences (JAEBS), 7(1), 188-197. 6. Honardoust, F. 2003. Desertification assessment and proposition of a regional model for the Gonbad Dashliboroun Plain. MSc thesis, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. 7. Karimi, K. 2013. Trend detection and prediction of desertification in Abasabad plain using Neural Network (with emphasis on biophysical factors). MSc thesis, College of agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University. 8. Kharin, N. G., 1985. Methodological principles of desertification Assessment mapping, Ashkhabad. 9. khosravi, H., Gh. R. Zehtabian, H. Ahmadi and H. Azarnivand, 2014. Hazard Assessment of Desertification as a Result of Soil and Water Recourse Degradation in KashanRegion,Iran. DESERT., 19 (1): 45-55. 10. LavadoConntador, J.F. et al. 2008. Mapping Sensitivity to land degradation Extremadura. SW Spain 1, 25-41. 11. Massoudi, R., 2011. Early Warning System for Desertification Based on Two Water and Climate criteria (Kashan Plain). MSc thesis, Tehran University. 12. Mombeyni, M., 2013. Desertification intensity assessment using IMDPA model, MSc thesis, Ilam University. 13. Nateghi,S., Zehtabian,G.h.R., Ahmadi ,H., 2009. Evaluation of Desertification Intensity in Segzi Plain Using IMDPA Model. Journal of Range and Watershed Management. Iranian Journal of Natural Resources, 62(3), 419-430. 14. Nikou, Sh. 2011. Desertificaiton potential assessment using IMDPA model in order to understand influential factors for land degradation case study: Damghan region. PhD thesis, College of agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University. 15. Rasmy. M. et al. 2010. A dynamic simulation model of desertification in Egypt. The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences 13, 101. 16. Reisi, A., Zehtabian, Gh. R., Ahmadi, H., Khosravi, H., Dastourani, M. 2012. Assessing the current state of desertification in coastal areas using biophysical criteria of the IMDPA Model (Case study: Kahir Konarak, Chabahar). Journal of Watershed Management Research (Research and Development) 97, 51-43. 17. Shakerian, N., Zehtabian, Gh.R., Azarnivand, H., Khosravi, H. 2011. Evaluation of desertification intensity based on soil and water criteria in Jarghooyeh region. Desert 16, 23-32 18. Shokohi, E. 2011. Study of desertification status using IMDPA model with emphasis on water and soil case study: Khezrabad, Elahabad of Yazd plain, M.sc thesis, faculty of natural Resources. 19. Shokouhi, A., Zehtabian, Gh.R., Tavili, A., 2011. Mapping of desertification in Khezrabad-Alahabad plain in Yazd Province using IMDPA and with empahsis on water and soil indices. Range and Watershed Management Journal, Journal of Natural Resources Iran 65, 528-517. 20. Tabatabaeefar, S.M., Zehtabian, Gh.R., Rahimi, M., KHosravi, H., Nikoo, Sh., 2013.The empaxt impact assessment of temporal variation of climatological and ground water condition on desertification intensity in Garmsar plain. Desert Management. 2, 39-48. 21. Tavares. J. 2012. Assessment and mapping of desertification sensitivity in an insular Sahelian mountain region case study of the Ribeira Seca Watershed, Cape Verde. Geophysical Research Abstracts 14. 22. Vesali, A. 2008. Assessment of the intensity of biophysical factors of desertification intensity under the influence of human activities (case study: Kashan and Aran Bidgol). MSc thesis in Arid Zone Management, College of agriculture and Natural Resources, Tehran University. 23. Wang X.D, zhong , X. H. liu, S. H. Liu, S.Z. Wang. Y. and Li M.H. 2006. Regional assessment of environment vuluerability in the Tibetan plateau: Development and application of a new method. Journal of arid Environment. 72, 1929-1939.