Soil Erosion Versus Soil Retention Capacity: An Impact Assessment Of Regulating Ecosystem Service Provision In Iran
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2025-3768
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of erosion on soil retention as an ecosystem service and its relationship with soil quality in a mountainous catchment in Iran. In this regard, 42 soil samples were collected from rangelands, rainfed, and irrigated farming areas. Thirteen physical and chemical soil attributes were measured. Principal component analysis was applied to identify a soil quality index (SQI). The respective ranges of soil erosion rates from rangelands, rainfed farming lands, and irrigated farming lands were estimated to be 0.2 – 46.4, 0.18 – 0.20, and 0.00 – 0.18 t ha−1 yr−1. The SQI estimates ranged between 3.2 – 4.0 for the rangelands compared with corresponding estimates of 4.0 – 5.7 for the rainfed farming lands and 5.7 – 8.4 for the irrigated farming lands. Soil retention was estimated to range between 0 – 0.01 t ha−1 yr−1 (average = 0.005 t ha−1 yr−1) for rangelands, 0.01 – 0.03 t ha−1 yr−1 (average = 0.02 t ha−1 yr−1) for rainfed farmlands, and 0.03 – 3.5 t ha−1 yr−1 (average = 1.8 t ha−1 yr−1) for irrigated farming lands. Negative relationships were observed among soil erosion, soil quality, and soil retention, emphasising the sensitivity of soil quality to the soil erosion rates estimated for different land use types. This study provides evidence for the negative effects of soil erosion under different land uses regarding the degradation of soil quality and soil retention as an ecosystem service.
Supporting agencies: We acknowledge the support of Grant number 600.871 funded by the research council of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. The contribution to this work by ALC was funded by UKRI-BBSRC (UK Research and InnovationBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) via grant award BB/X010961/1 (Resilient Farming Futures) – specifically work package 2 - BBS/E/RH/230004B; Detecting agroecosystem ‘resilience’ using novel data science methods.
About the Authors
Kazem Nosrati
Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University
Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran
Alireza Salehipour Milani
Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University
Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran
Mostafa Keshtkar
Department of Planning and Designing the Environment, Environmental Science Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University
Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran
Somaiyeh Khaleghi
Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University
Islamic Republic of Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran
Adrian L. Collins
Rothamsted Research, North Wyke
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Okehampton, EX20 2SB
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For citations:
Nosrati K., Milani A., Keshtkar M., Khaleghi S., Collins A.L. Soil Erosion Versus Soil Retention Capacity: An Impact Assessment Of Regulating Ecosystem Service Provision In Iran. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2025;18(4):80-91. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2025-3768
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