Journal of Water and Soil Science

Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration at Regional Scale using Remote sensing data in Shahrekord Plain (II) Comparing SEBAL and METRIC to Some Mathematical Models of Evapotranspiration

A. Morshedi

This study was designed to investigate the possibility of using the surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) and mapping evapotranspiration at high resolution with internalized calibration (METRIC) models to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) in Shahrekord plain (Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province, Iran). Two sets of Landsat ETM+ data dated June 30^th and August 21^st, 1999 were provided to estimate and compare reference evapotranspiration (alfalfa) at regional scale using Landsat ETM+ data to ET estimations by five mathematical methods (experimental and combined) known as standardized Penman-Monteith by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE-stPM), Penman-Monteith (F56PM), Blaney-Cridle (F24BC), Hargreaves-Samani (HS) and evaporation pan (F24P). Results showed that ET at cold anchor pixel for SEBAL were 6.97 and 6.77 millimeters per day and for METRIC were 10.27 and 9.31 millimeters per day, on days when the satellite passed over. Hargreaves-Samani ET values, as the suitable mathematical model for the studied area, were 8.0 and 7.5 millimeters per day, respectively, on two satellite passes. Results showed that, in the first pass all statistical indices for SEBAL were less than the second pass, maybe due to higher air temperature and wind speed. On the other way, statistical indices in METRIC on the alternate pass, however, showed higher values over the corresponding values in SEBAL. ET values on two satellite passes for anchor pixels were 5.65 and 5.93 mm/day in SEBAL, and 5.22 and 6.65 mm/day in METRIC, respectively. ET values on the same days of satellite overpass for Hargreaves – Samani (HS) were 8.0 and 7.5 mm/day. Consequently, based on the results, both RS-ET models were comparable to empirical models such as (HS). Generally, the results showed that SEBAL had higher accuracy than METRIC, presumably due to lack of accurate weather data (hourly data), so SEBAL is recommended in similar conditions. Generally, the results showed that SEBAL had higher accuracy in comparison to HS and lysimeters data than METRIC, so SEBAL is recommended in similar conditions.

Comparison of Lazy Algorithms and M5 Model to Estimate Groundwater Level (Case Study: Plain Neyshabur)

A. Khalili Naft Chali

In recent years and in many countries, overusing groundwater resources had been higher than their annual feeding amount. This issue caused drop in the groundwater levels, followed by drying wells, qanats and springs. In this study, given the importance of Neyshabur plain in supplying agricultural, industrial and drinkable water of the area, lazy algorithms of KNN, KSTAR and LWL and M5 tree model have been utilized under seven different scenarios in order to estimate groundwater level of this aquifer. To compare the results, the Statistical parameters of root mean square error, correlation coefficient and the average absolute error were analyzed. The results showed that the ‘f’ scenario which contains the volume of water discharged and total precipitation parameters is less efficient because the ground surface level parameter was not taken into account. In ‘a’, ‘b’ and ‘g’ scenarios, an optimum estimation has been maintained for the groundwater level by considering the parameters of total rainfall in the previous month, total rainfall in the last two months and the ground surface level. Among the models of lazy algorithms and M5 decision tree model, the ability of KNN model under ‘a’ scenario was more than other models in December (Azar) by the statistical parameters R^Z=0/96 , RMSE= 6.56 and MAE= 3.53. Also, study of evaluation criteria showed that the LWL is not an appropriate model to predict the level of the water table.

Evaluation and Modification of the MUSLE in Predicting Soil Loss in Micro Plots using Simulated Rainfalls

A. R. Vaezi

Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) is one of soil loss estimation models which has been developed based on the runoff characteristics in the event scale. However, it needs to be evaluated in the plot scale for the semi-arid rainfall events. With this aim, a field study was designed using twenty one plots. Runoff and soil loss were measured using 5-min samples under seven rainfall intensities consisted of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 60, and 70 mm h^-1 for 60 min. Soil loss was estimated using the MUSLE based on the runoff volume (Q) and runoff peak discharge (q_p) and the values were compared with the observed values. The estimated soil loss was about 3.89 times bigger than the observed value on average. In order to improve model estimations, the power of rainfall erosivity index was modified from 0.56 to 0.62, (Q q_p)^0.62. The modification of the MUSLE model improved model efficiency (ME) from -5.5 to 0.47 and decreased the root mean square error from 0.000137 to 0.000031. This study revealed that the MUSLE overestimates soil loss from the small plots in the semi -arid regions. Therefore it is essential to calibrate runoff erosivity index using the data observed in the area. The modified MUSLE can be reliably used to predict soil loss in the small plot scale in semi-arid regions.

Source of Eolian Facies using Geomorphological and Sedimen Tological Methods (Case Study: Ab-Barik Watershed of Bam in Kerman)

F. Heidari

The Ab-Barik watershed in Bam is a part of Lut desert basin. It is like all other desert areas which has erosion problems caused by wind erosion, sand and soil storms. The result of these sand storms appears as continuous and isolated sand hills. In this paper it was attempted to identify direction and source of harvest points by using sedimentological methods. This was accomplished by step by step sand processed method. At the first step the main direction of harvest areas was determined by some studies such as collecting public information, the study of general morphology and measuring sand hill, comparison of aerial photos in different periods and analysis of region winds. At the second step the origin of sand areas was recognized by investigations such as the study of geomorphological facies of lands of harvest regions with emphasis on morphodynamic wind, granulation of sand hills elements and surface soil of erosionic facies plots at harvest lands, study of morphoscopy of forming particles of samples and determination of indices including central diameter, roundness, sorting and mineralogy of samples. The results revealed that the main source of sands is clay pan facies and farm lands, especially waste lands. Also, the main direction of harvest areas displacement is from south, southwest to north, and northeast. Application of results of this study can modify the used management methods, controlling and confronting with the problem of wind erosion and sand and soil storms.

Spatial Distribution of Some Heavy Metals in Different Soil Particle Size Fractions in Kafe Moor, Kerman Province, Iran

M. Tayebi

The aim of this work was to study distribution of some heavy metals in different soil particle-size fractions and to assess their spatial distribution. The study was carried out in Kafe Moor (Kerman, Iran) where the Gol-Gohar Iron Mine is located. One hundred twenty composite soil samples were randomly collected and transferred to the laboratory in bags. After air-drying, the samples were fractionated into six classes including 2- 0.5, 0.5-0.25, 0.25-0.125, 0.125- 0.075, 0.075-0.05 and <0.05 mm. Elemental concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) were determined using acid digestion method (HNO₃, 4.0 N) and an atomic absorption spectrophotometer in each class. Ordinary Kriging technique was used for predicting spatial distribution of heavy metals. The results showed that content of metals in soil increased with decreasing particle size. The results also showed that the concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni in <0.05 mm size fraction were 2.13, 1.70, 4.79,2.43, 1.42, and 3.47 times higher than in 2-0.05 mm size fraction, respectively. In addition, mapping the concentrations of heavy metals with kiriging showed that metals pollution decreased with increasing distance from mines area.

Relationship Between Available Fe and its Chemical Fractions in Some Calcareous Soils of East Azarbaijan Province

A. Reyhanitabar

In this research available iron was measured in 21 calcareous surface soil samples (0-30 cm) by five methods including DTPA, AB-DTPA, AC-EDTA, hydroxylamine, reference ammonium oxalate and rapid ammonium oxalate. Fe fractions were also determined by the modified sequential extraction procedures introduced by Singh et al. According to results, rapid ammonium oxalate and AC-EDTA methods extracted the maximum (856.03 mg.kg^-1) and minimum (4.46 mg.kg^-1) amounts of Fe, respectively. Rapid ammonium oxalate extraction method, in addition to Fe-Afeox, extracted other fractions of iron such as Fe-Ex, Fe-Om, Fe-CFeox and Fe-Res. Hydroxylamine method compared to other methods, ectracted Fe mostly from the amorphous oxides source. Regression analysis indicates that Fe-Ex, Fe-AFeox and Fe-Res fractions have major and Fe-Car and Fe-Mnox have minor role in releasing available Fe (with AB-DTPA and DTPA) in the studied soil. According to the statistical relationships, carbonates associated Fe, does not seem a potential source of available Fe in calcareous soils. Organic carbon content and cation exchange capacity of the soils appear the two most influential soil properties that predict available Fe in the studied soils.

The Effect of Emitter Spacing on Physical Clogging of Drip Irrigation Tapes

P. Fathi

Drip irrigation is one of the new irrigation methods for optimum use of water resources and increase of irrigation efficiency. The emitters' clogging is the most important problem in these systems. The physical clogging is the most important factor in reducing the discharge and emission uniformity of emitters. The emitter position on the laterals and emitter spacing are the factors that affect the physical clogging rate of emitters. The objective of the present study is evaluating the effect of emitter spacing of drip irrigation tape on the physical clogging rate of emitters. For this purpose, a physical model of drip irrigation tape was designed and made at the laboratory. In this research, seamless and seamed irrigation tapes with emitter spacing equal to 10, 20 and 30 centimeters were used. Statistical analysis showed that emitters spacing have significant effect on clogging rate of emitters in seamless and seamed drip irrigation tapes. The results also indicated that seamless irrigation tapes with 30-centimeter emitters spacing, with clogging rate of 22 percent, have the least clogging. A comparison of clogging rate and uniformity coefficient of irrigation tape showed the higher performance of seamless irrigation tape in clogging condition.

The Effect of Tillage Systems and Different Sources of Fertilizer on Corn Yield and Soil Nutrients

H. Fanaie

In line with sustainable agriculture development, an experiment was conducted including tillage as the main factor in two conventional systems (plowing and mixing fertilizer with soil) and no tillage (leaving residuals of green manure and direct corn sowing). The fertilizer resources were T0: control, T1: barley green manure without chemical and manure fertilizers, T2: barley green manure with full use of the recommended chemical fertilizer (NPK) to barley containing urea, super triple phosphate and potassium sulphate respectively as 165, 90, and 75 kg/ ha, T3: green manure with two -third residual of chemical fertilizer for barley and a third of the residual to corn, T4: green manure with one- third chemical fertilizer for barley and two-third for corn, T5: barley green manure mixed with 50% manure and 50% chemical fertilizer, and T6: green manure with 40 tons of manure used as a sub-plot in the split plot and in completely random blocks with three replications for two crop years ( 2013-2014) at the Agricultural Research Station, Sistan. The results showed that in comparison with no-tillage, the conventional tillage resulted in a significant increase in grain yield, the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and soil organic carbon, bulk density and moisture content of the soil decreased in the conventional tillage. Sources of fertilizer (organic and chemical fertilizers) significantly increased soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and soil moisture content. The pH and soil bulk density factors decreased after using manure sources. Interaction tillage in the fertilizer sources showed that in the conventional tillage and Treatment T5 (mixture of manure, green and chemical fertilizers) the highest yield of corn was obtained with an average of 8471 kg/ha. The results of this experiment reported that using conventional tillage system with mixture of 50% manure, green and chemical fertilizers can increase corn grain yield, provide the dynamics of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic carbon, and improve soil bulk density and soil pH.

The Effect of Firing Background on Some Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in Forest Ecosystem of Sardasht

MH. Rasouli-Sadghiani

The Firing effect on soil depends on its intensity and duration. In order to investigate influence of different firing backgrounds on some soil physical and chemical properties, 80 soil samples were taken from two depths (0-5 cm and 5-20 cm) with different time of firing background (2 and 12 months). Some soil physical and chemical characteristics were measured at soil samples. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the amount of pH, EC, bulk density and ammonium in soils with different history of burning. The amount of studied indices increased after firing in burned soils compared to the control ones. However 12 months later they reach to their pre-fire levels. Total nitrogen amount in soils with 2 and 12 months firing history were 1.18 and 1.11 times higher than the control soils, respectively. The amount of organic carbon in surface depth (0-5 cm) of burned soils with 2 and 12 month firing backgrounds 37.25 and 24.7 percent increased in comparison to control soils, respectively. Also, fire led to a significant reduction in the amount of clay (29.25 percent) in burned areas compared to the control ones. Soil particle size distribution in control sites were in clay up to loam and in burned areas were in clay loam up to sandy loam classes. Therefore forest firing causes obvious changes in soil properties, remediation of which takes more than one year.

Development of a Simulation-Optimization Model for Optimal Design of Basin Irrigation using SA Algorithm

S.A. Mohseni Movahed

Basin irrigation is one of the conventional surface irrigation methods used to irrigate many crops all over the world. EDOBASIN, a new mathematical model for evaluation, design and optimal operation of basin irrigation has been introduced in this paper. In this model the linear combination of desired efficiencies are considered in an objective function, and based on decision variables that include discharge, length and width of basin and also restrictions of parameters, the optimal design is performed. This model is a simulation-optimization model in which the volume balance equations are used for hydrodynamic simulation and SA method are used for optimization steps. Optimization capabilities with various decision options and allowing weights to the indicators are good characteristics of this model. Comparison of advance time in this model with the well-known model SIRMOD for a real condition showed a good accuracy in the evaluation phase. In addition, the significant improvement of efficiencies after optimizing them simultaneously indicate that the model is an efficient tool for optimal design and use of this model for a data plot of an experimental field could enhance the efficiency of deep percolation ratio and application efficiency to 20% and keep constant the level of 100% for the efficiencies of water requirement and distribution uniformity.

Prioritizing Determination of Watershed Biological Management Options using Multi-Criteria Decision making Techniques (Case Study: Delichay Catchment)

A.R. Keshtkar

Recently, catchments were considered as planning and management units for sustainable development in many issues. Catchment sources management is considered as a new principle for development planning and management of water and soil resources emphasizing on socio-economic characteristics of the region to sustainable livelihoods and without vulnerability of plant and the residents of an area. These objectives will be achieved when the proper management of resources and the management should be applied to decrease destructive processes and strengthen the improvement processes. Aiming at biological management of watershed resources with scenario building approach, this study has assessed and prioritized biological management options in the Delichay Catchment. With a choice of four biological management activities, 16 scenarios were developed in the study area. Then, criteria weighting was carried out using analytic hierarchy process and ultimately, the best management option was chosen using TOPSIS model. The results indicated that social, ecological, economic and physical criteria were respectively prioritized from one to four and scenario number 10 was determined as the best scenario and the first priority. Also, the results showed that the multi-criteria decision making techniques included capability of expressing different aspects of the problem and are perfect tools for integrated watershed resources management.

Delineation of Suitable Sites for Groundwater Artificial Recharge using Integrated AHP-TOPSIS (Case Study: Shahrood-Bastam Basin)

K. shirani

Recent urban development and population growth in Shahrood tend to adopt a strategy for ground water management. This project, which is a descriptive- analytic type study based on field observation and laboratory analysis, aims to delineate proper sites for groundwater artificial recharge using integrated AHP-TOPSIS. First, the study area was delineated using remote sensing techniques. Then, appropriate criteria including 5 main criteria and 12 sub-criteria were obtained by field observation and literature review. Then, the appropriate sites for groundwater recharge were determined. The process of the used method consists of designing hierarchical structure of the project, preparation of pairwise comparison matrices, weighting criteria and sub criteria values by experts, and ultimately ranking them by TOPSIS method. Results showed that lithology, slope, water table depth, and land use have the main role in sites delineation. A number of control sites were employed for model validation that indicates 87.20 percent accuracy. Overally, 73.6 and 82.12 percent of the total area were grouped as very suitable and suitable classes, respectively.

Technical and Hydraulic Comparison of Normal and Compensating Emitters in Sloping Lands

M. Noshadi

The uniformity parameters in drip irrigation system are influenced by the slope of manifold and therefore, the evaluation of drip irrigation systems is important in slopping lands. In this research, different slopes of 0.2, 6, 11, 16, 20 and 25% were applied on the ground surface and manifold of drip irrigation system with diameters of 50, 63 and 75 mm and length of 70 m were installed on these uniform slopes. The lateral pipes with 16 mm diameter and 40 m length were placed on the contour lines and connected to manifold bilaterally. The results showed that in the normal emitters in above slopes, the qv(avg) values were 289, 6740, 46, 135, 38 and 27 percent, respectively, qv(max) values were 222, 48, 53, 90, 27 and 9 percent, respectively, and the CV values were 300, 114, 33, 140, 63 and 25 percent, respectively, higher than compensating emitters. However, in the normal emitters in above slopes, the EU values were 33, 34, 12, 25, 17 and 9 percent, respectively, EUa values were 26, 23, 6, 21, 15 and 13%, respectively, UC values were 17, 16, 4, 13, 14 and 9%, respectively, and US values were 10, 8, 2, 8, 5 and 4 percent, respectively, less than compensating emitters. Therefore, even in high slopes (20 and 25%), the irrigation efficiency in compensating emitters were better than normal emitters. The relationship between slope and discharge of emitters represented small changes in discharge of compensating emitters in sloping lands.

Economic Optimization of Design Parameters of Furrow Irrigation under Deficit Irrigation for Corn in Shahrekord Region

M. Naderi

Considering water scarcity in Iran, application of deficit irrigation or water stress on some crops is inevitable. We need to provide appropriate design for deficit irrigation. Furrow irrigation management to obtain high efficiency and uniformity is difficult. Therefore, to investigate the variation of the input discharge, the cut-off time and furrow length that are effective on the efficiency and uniformity are very important. The purpose of this research is to provide a method for determining the optimum water use depth and optimizing furrow irrigation design in deficit irrigation conditions and finally comparing design characteristics under full irrigation conditions and deficit irrigation and comparison in different soil tissues. In order to achieve the objectives of this research, an experiment was conducted on forage corn in Shahrekord in a completely randomized block design with 7 treatments of different levels of irrigation in 3 replications. The costs and benefits functions were determined based on design variable and depth of applied water. The software Lingo was used to optimize the design variables (length of the furrow, the input discharge and cut-off time) and depth of applied water in deficit irrigation condition. The results showed that the highest net profit was obtained using 535 mm (equivalent to 79% of full irrigation) and 85 meters, 0.39 liter per second and 188 minutes, respectively, for the length of furrow, input discharge and cut-off time. The results of this design were compared to full irrigation of deferent soil textures. The results showed that an increase in the permeability of the soil caused length of furrow and the cut-off time to decrease, while the flow rate increases and depth of applied water or percent of deficit irrigation were constant.

Improvement of Nitrogen use Efficiencies using Leaf Color Chart (LCC) in Rice Field

S. Vaseghi

Nitrogen use efficiency is relatively low in irrigated rice fields because of rapid N losses from ammonia volatilization, the nitrification, surface runoff, and leaching in the soil-flood water system. Since the plant N represents the total N supply of all sources, plant N status will be a good indicator of N availability to crops at any given time. Leaf colour chart (LCC) is a simple portable diagnostic tool, to determine the timing of N top dressing. LCC was developed to increase the N use efficiency at irrigated rice fields. A field experiment was carried out to compare the effect of N split application and LCC on the grain yield and agronomic and recovery efficiency of Fajr variety in 2009. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with 12 treatments in 3 replications on Fajr cultivar. Twelve treatments included control treatments (without nitrogen fertilizer) and 45, 90, 135 kg N ha^-1 for three times each and two treatments included LCC treatments 4 and 5. As a result, all treatments showed significant (p=0.05) grain yield increase in comparison to control. Increased yield was observed up to 135 kgN/ha (55.2%). Grain yield of LCC treatments was higher than split treatments. LCC treatment 5 had higher AE, RE, PE, PFP and IE than LCC 4 and fixed – 135 at the less N rate in all fields. Therefore, the results of different fertilizer treatments showed that the LCC treatment 5 with maximum grain yield, agronomic, physiological, internal and relative efficiency factors can be considered as the best management method for using nitrogen fertilizer and preventing from excess use of nitrogen fertilizer in Fajr cultivar.

Analyzing the Effect of Groundwater Quality on Desertification using Bayesian Belief Networks in Segzi Desertification Hotspot

A. H. Boali

This paper aimed to assess the severity of desertification in Segzi plain located in the eastern part of Isfahan city, focusing on groundwater quality criteria used in MEDALUS model. Bayesian Belief networks (BBNs) were also used to convert MEDALUS model into a predictive, cause and effects model. Different techniques such as Kriging and IDW were applied to water quality data of 12 groundwater wells to map continuous variations of the CL, SAR, EC, TDS, pH and decline in water table indices in GIS environment. The effects of measured water quality indicators on desertification severity levels were assessed using sensitivity and scenario analysis in BBNs model. According to the results of the MEDALUS, the desertification of the study area was classified as severe class due to its low quality of groundwater. Sensitivity analysis by the both models showed that decline in waater table, water chloride content and electrical conductivity were the most important parameters responsible for desertification in the region from ground water condition standpoint. The determination coefficient between the outputs of the MEDALUS and BBNs models (R2>0.63) indicated that the results of both models were significantly correlated (α=5 %). These results indicate that the application of BBNs model in desertification assessment can appropriately accommodate the uncertainty of desertification methods and can help managers to make better decision for upcoming land management projects.

Investigation the Effect of Sand and Gravel Mining on Bed Sediment Morphometric Characteristics (Case Study: Zaremrood River, Mazandaran Province)

S. H. Roshun

Sand and gravel mining from the most of our country rivers causes morphological, hydrological and geomorphological changes in these rivers. This study investigates the effects of removal of sand and gravel from the river bed on sedimentological features of Zaremrood River in Mazandaran province. For this purpose, by determining four sections before and four sections after the sand removing point, the river bed sediments sampling in combined approach and in a plot within the river were performed and sedimentology features such as the large, medium and small diameters (a, b and c), roundness (R_c), form factor (S_f), normal diameter (D), sphericity (S), and width ratio (W), were measured and calculated in the laboratory and analyzed by SPSS software. The results showed that the variations of sediment statistics a, b, c, Sf, D, S and W in the pre- and post- harvest location has a significant difference but the Rc statistic does not show any significant difference. The reduction of the triple diameters after the excavation site is caused by the fracture of the sediments in the mining area, so that the sphericity of grains also decreased in the mining area. Roundness of sediment particles after the excavation site is decreasing up to 600 meters reach and then it tends to increase.

Assessment of Hydrus-1D Model to Predict Electrical Conductivity and the Ions of Soil Profile (Case Study: Sugarcane under Salinity Stress)

M. Golabi

In the present study Hydrus-1D software was used to simulate electrical conductivity, pH and sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and sulfate ions. Field experiments were performed at the Sugarcane Research Center located in south of Ahvaz on sugarcane varieties CP48-103 with four water treatments (one treatment was Karun river water and three treatments were diluted drainage water) and three replications. The samples were collected from 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm soil depth before irrigation and electrical conductivity and anions and cations of soil were measured in the laboratory. Sensitivity analysis and calibration were first performed with the aim of verifying the Hydrus-1D software. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the software had maximum sensitivity to the saturated volumetric water content. Minimum sensitivity was for the inverse of the air-entry suction, tortuosity parameter, residual volumetric water contents and moderate sensitivity was for hydraulic conductivity at natural saturation. Also, the software did not show any sensitivity to empirical parameter related to the pore size distribution that is reflected in the slope of water retention curve. In calibration stage the amount of hydraulic conductivity at natural saturation, residual volumetric water contents, saturation volumetric water contents, the inverse of the air-entry suction, empirical parameter related to the pore size distribution and tortuosity were obtained as 18 (cm/day), 0.04 (cm³/cm³), 0.63(cm³/cm³), 0.012 (cm^-1), 1.2 and 0.6 respectively. The results showed that the coefficient of determination of all parameters was more than 0.85 which confirms the appropriate capabilities of the model in simulation of electrical conductivity, pH, anions and cations. In the modeling carried out the amount of NRMSE was between 11 and 18 percent which indicates good performance of the model. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency criterion was obtained 0.72 to 0.8 that indicates a good match of the model with reality. The coefficient of residual mass in this paper was positive for electrical conductivity, pH and sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and negative for chloride and sulfate. The positive and negative coefficient of the residual mass shows less and over estimation of the model.

Effect of the Flow and Geometric Parameters of Submerged Spur Dike on Riprap Stability

E. Jasemi zargani

Spur dikes are the most common hydraulic structures for river bank protection. Since the construction of this structure causes higher velocities around it, this structure is exposed to erosion. Riprap around the structure nose is one of the most common and economic way to protect spur dike. The main aim of this study is to investigate the riprap stability in a mild 90 degrees bend. Experiments were conducted in a laboratory flume with a 90 degree bend. After specifying the critical spur dike along the bend, this spur and one before and one after it were protected by riprap. The variables were the length of the structure, spur space, riprap size, Froude number, and the amount of submergence, and 205 experiments were carried out in this flume. Finally an experimental equation was developed based on the flow and geometric parameters of submerged spur dike, which can be applied for designing the riprap size.

Evaluating Soil- Environment Inference Model (SOLIM) for Soil Mapping Based on Fuzzy Logic in Kashan

E. Mehrabi Gohari

Typical routine surveys of soils are relatively expensive in terms of time and cost and due to the fact that maps have been traditionally developed and considering their dependence on experts' opinions, updating maps is time consuming and sometimes not economical as well. While soil digital mapping, using soil various models - the Landscape, leads to simplification of the complexity found in natural soil systems and provides users with quick and inexpensive updates. In fact, the model represents a simplified form of the complex relationships between the soil and the land. This study aims to consider inferential model Soil-Land (SOLIM) in mapping and estimating soil classes in Aran area, Isfahan province. For this purpose, the SOLIM model inputs are digital geological and environmental layers of digital elevation model (DEM) including elevation, slope in percent, slop direction, curvature of the earth's surface, wetness indicator, flow direction, flow accumulation, and satellite images of Landsat 8. The seven subcategory of soil in the study area are input data of SOLIM model. Then fuzzy maps were prepared for seven types of soil and final maps of soil prediction were created by non-fuzzy action. Results showed that the SOLIM using environment variables has very high ability to separate soil types in greater detail and soils with different parent materials, geology, climate and vegetation can be separated from each other by this model with a high degree of accuracy. Comparing error matrix shows that the overall accuracy of the map derived from the model SOLIM is 92.36%.