Çapakçur Havzasında (Türkiye’nin Doğusu) Toprak kayıplarının RUSLE metodu ile tahmin edilmesi ve Sediment Verimi İle Karşılaştırılması

The present study aimed to determine the total and net erosion in the Capakcur watershed, which has a high erosion risk. Accordingly, annual soil loss in the Capakcur watershed was estimated using RUSLE. Net erosion, on the other hand, was measured directly by determining the monthly flow rate and sediment concentrations of the Capakcur stream, which originated from the Capakcur watershed and flowed into the Murat River, throughout 2019. Soil loss in the Capakcur watershed was estimated to be 96916.20 tons.yr-1. The amount of soil transported from the Capakcur stream was 68656.09 tons.yr-1. According to these results, the sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was calculated as 0.78. This ratio was well above the average of Turkey. The main reasons for the high SDR are the topographic factors (slope length and degree), rainfall, and low vegetation closure ratio in the watershed. Due to the high SDR, the fertile upper soil layers from the basins are carried to the streams. This causes both the inefficiency of the soils and the pollution of the limited freshwater resources. Afforestation and soil conservation practices (terraces, wire cages, stone walls in gullies, etc.) are required to reduce the Cover and Management Factor (C) and Support and Conservation Practices Factor (P) in the watershed.