Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage

Iranian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage

Spatial Modeling of Soil Erosion and Sediment Deposition in the Shalmanrud Watershed Using RUSLE and WaTEM/SEDEM

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 PhD student, Department of Water Engineering, La, C., Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.
2 Department of Water Engineering, Lahijan branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.
3 خیابان شیDepartment of Civil Engineering, R, C., Islamic Azad University, Roudbar, Iranشه گران کوچه حقگو پلاک 71
4 Department of Agriculture, La, C. Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
10.22034/idj.2026.568951.2655
Abstract
This study aims to assess the spatial patterns of soil erosion and sediment dynamics in the Shalmanrud watershed, eastern Gilan Province, Iran, using an integrated modeling framework combining the RUSLE and WaTEM/SEDEM models within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Rainfall erosivity (R) was estimated from 20 years of monthly precipitation records using the Modified Fournier Index, while soil erodibility (K) was derived from soil texture and organic matter content based on the Wischmeier equation. The topographic factor (LS) was calculated from a 30-m resolution digital elevation model using the Desmet and Govers algorithm, and the cover-management factor (C) was obtained from NDVI values derived from Landsat 8 imagery. Owing to the absence of effective soil conservation measures, the support practice factor (P) was assumed to be unity across the watershed. The spatially distributed RUSLE outputs were subsequently used as inputs to the WaTEM/SEDEM model to simulate sediment production, transport, and deposition processes. Results indicate that annual soil erosion rates range from near zero to approximately 44.15 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, with nearly 72% of the watershed classified as very low erosion (<5 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). WaTEM/SEDEM simulations estimate total annual sediment production at about 73,829 t yr⁻¹ (≈1.46 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), whereas internal sediment deposition reaches approximately 603,840 t yr⁻¹. These findings suggest that the Shalmanrud watershed predominantly functions as a sediment sink rather than a sediment-exporting system.
Keywords


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 May 2026