STUDY OF RATAGA BASIN VALLEY (WESTERN OF IRAQ) CRUSTING AND ERODIBILITY BY WIND AND WATER

Abstract

A field study was conducted in the area of Ratga Valley, western of Iraq, within longitudes (40º 46' 40" and 39º 36' 37" N) and latitudes (34º 17' 19" and 32º 41' 06" E) to investigate the degradation process of valley lands, depending on the topographic maps, satellite images and digital elevation model, the nature of region was defined as arid and semi-arid land. Results showed the existence seven series of soils within the study area. The
Results showed that the values of wind soil Erodibility indicator were ranged between -0.250 and 0.393, (ARCGIS 9.3 software, used), when the soil area of low Erodibility was within the area of 2306 km2 , while the soil mid and high Erodibility indicator was located in the area of 566 and 2748 km2 , respectively. In the other hand, the area of soil that had low crusting was in the area of 3080 km2. The mid and low area categories were approached to 646 and 1894 km2 for mid and high class, respectively. Also, the areas categories of low, mid and high classes of water Erodibility was located in the area of 154, 1775 and 3691 km2 , respectively.

Full text

Pak. J. Biotechnol. Vol 15 (3) 843-848 (2018) ISSN Print: 1812-1837
www.pjbt.org ISSN Online: 2312-7791
STUDY OF RATAGA BASIN VALLEY (WESTERN OF IRAQ) CRUSTING AND ERODIBILITY BY WIND AND
WATER
Farhan Muhammed Jasim*, Saifulddin Abedulrazaq Salim** and Husam Naji Mukhlif**
*University of Anbar- College of Agriculture/Iraq, ** University of Anbar- Center of Desert Studies/Iraq
E. mail: alissawi77@hotmail.com
Article received 30.7.2018, Revised 7.9.2018, Accepted 15.9.2018
ABSTRACT
A field study was conducted in the area of Ratga Valley, western of Iraq, within longitudes (40º 46' 40"
and 39º 36' 37" N) and latitudes (34º 17' 19" and 32º 41' 06" E) to investigate the degradation process of valley
lands, depending on the topographic maps, satellite images and digital elevation model, the nature of region was
defined as arid and semi-arid land. Results showed the existence seven series of soils within the study area. The
Results showed that the values of wind soil Erodibility indicator were ranged between -0.250 and 0.393,
(ARCGIS 9.3 software, used), when the soil area of low Erodibility was within the area of 2306 km2, while the
soil mid and high Erodibility indicator was located in the area of 566 and 2748 km2, respectively. In the other
hand, the area of soil that had low crusting was in the area of 3080 km2. The mid and low area categories were
approached to 646 and 1894 km2 for mid and high class, respectively. Also, the areas categories of low, mid and
high classes of water Erodibility was located in the area of 154, 1775 and 3691 km2, respectively.
Keywords: western of Iraq, erosion, soil crust, soil productivity.
INTRODUCTION
Lands deterioration is known as temporary and
permanent regression of its productivity ability
that happens due to the natural imbalance caused
by impropriate or excessive land use by human
activities or natural factors. This is a serious prob-
lem worldwide threatening dried lands and it is
one of the environmental problems that facing
desert areas (FAO, 2004). Soil deterioration took
many different forms like physical deterioration
that refers to wind and water erosion or dust sto-
rms, and chemical deterioration, which includes
soil salinity in first class, as well as the biological
deterioration (Al-Juraisy 2013).
Early; Buringh (1960) reported that 2.4 million
hectares of Iraqi soils are exposed to wind erosion
which forms about 60% of the total area. Dean-
gelis et al., (1987) mentioned that there are many
human and natural causes of the physical deterio-
ration, Soil erosion is one of the most important
factors that cause of about 85% of the soil deterio-
ration. Wind erosion at the forefront of erosion
processes especially in an arid and semi-arid reg-
ion where the soil is powdery, dried with fine
particles and little vegetation and the wind is high.
Wind erosion is one of the worldwide problems
that affect the ecological system; wind erosion
severity in the past few years is due to extremism
climate in those regions.
Water is also causing erosion especially in sloping
lands where rainfall is high, where the impact sta-
rts form rain splash to the water runoff and ends in
the main drainage canals.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study zone (Figure1) was determined in 5620 km2
area using topographic maps and visualizations
type DME by which the valley basin was deter-
mined. The zone was chosen because of the inten-
tion to study the desert lands and the possibility of
utilizing it especially within Anbar governorate;
as well as the presence of the Algaarh trough; the
largest depression in the desert of Anbar; so as to
reflect the status of physical degradation of the
land within the region and to locate this degrada-
tion in areas within the study zone.
Nine areas were chosen within topographic hete-
rogeneity, soils were morphologically characte-
rized according to USDA soil survey staff 2011;
and then soil samples were collected from each
diagnosed profile, taken to the laboratory then air
dried, sieved by 2mm sieve, and prepared for
physical and chemical analysis.

F.M. Jasim et al., Pak. J. Biotechnol.
844
Figure 1: Map shows the study zone location in Anbar governorate.
Physical characters of the soil:
1. Volumetric distribution of soil separates
This was evaluated using volumetric pipet
method according to Hesse (1976) matrix.
Silts separates evaluated in three parts
(Roughen, medium and soft silt) according to
the time period of each separates to sedimen-
tation while sand separate was divided into
five parts (50-100, 100-250, 250-500, 500-
1000, 1000-2000 µm) using group of sieves
(50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 µm)
respectively for each separate.
2. Chemical and fertility characters of the soil:
- Organic matter (OM): was evaluated using
wet digestion as mentioned by Page et al
(1982).
- Carbonate equivalent estimation: this was
estimated by the titration with sodium hydro-
xide (0.5 molars) according to the method
mentioned in Handbook 60.
3- Estimating soil erodibility and crusting ability
according to the table 1. Soil erodibility factor and
soil crusting factor were estimated for each profile
using formula bellow (Fryrear et al., 2000).
Table 1: Some physical, chemical and fertility characters of the study zone.
Pedon
Horizon
Depth (cm)
Sand %
Silt %
Clay %
Texture
OM %
CaCO3
gm.kg-1soil
Very Fine
Sand %
Bulk
Density
(gm/cm3)
Porosity %
P1
A
0- 25
48.235
1.555
50.21
SC
0.936
465
5.21
1.26
51.36
P2
A
0- 20
96.325
0.13
3.545
S
0.234
290
4.785
1.14
57.57
P3
A
0- 22
66.33
1.63
32.04
SCL
0.936
430
4.635
1.12
57.97
P4
A
0- 24
68.34
11.145
20.515
SCL
1.17
440
0.27
1.13
57.64
P5
A
0- 28
65.76
0.8
33.44
SCL
1.17
450
0.19
1.30
50.31
P6
A
0-12
82.05
0.885
17.065
SL
0.936
445
7.88
1.18
55.53
P7
A
0- 14
67.71
1.145
31.145
SCL
1.38
473
6.715
1.50
42.27
P8
A
0- 17
62.6
1.05
36.35
SC
1.12
727
8.545
1.13
56.90
P9
A
0-14
73.05
0.85
26.1
SCL
1.6
334
8.245
1.22
52.81
Iran
Key Map
Turkey

Vol. 15 (3) 2018 Study of rataga basin valley….
845
EF=1/100[29.09+ (0.31*%sand) +0.17*%silt)
+(0.33*% sand/clay)-(2.59*%organic matter) -
(0.95*%CaCO3)]
Where: EF = is the wind erodibility factor
SCF = 1/ [1+0.0049(%clay) ²]
Where: SCF = Soil crust factor
Water erodibility factor of each profile was
estimated according to the formula bellow
suggested by (Albyati et al, 2003)
EFw= [0.37*(%silt+ very fine sand) + (0.28*
%clay) +14.87]/100
Where: EFw = Erodibility factors of water
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
1- Soil classification of the study zone. The
classification was according to Al-Agidi
(1981) for the desert soils using the general
equation (GTB – PCD), and according to the
descriptive and analytic obtained results;
seven soil series were determined to present
the study soil which allocated as showed in
figure (2). The seven series areas are shown
in the table (2).
Table 2: Areas of soils chains and its percentages of study zone.
Figure 2: Map of the distribution of studied soils chains (source. Research work according to Al-Agidi, 1981
classification)
No:
Series
Pedons
Area km2
%
1
142SCW
P1, P5
311.8
5.55
2
112SCW
P2
815.4
14.51
3
143VCW
P3
392.8
6.99
4
143SCW
P4
808.7
14.39
5
122SCW
P6
660
11.74
6
142CCW
P7, P8
2125.8
37.83
7
121CCW
P9
505.5
8.99
Total
7
9
5620
100%
Jorda
n
Saladin

F.M. Jasim et al., Pak. J. Biotechnol.
846
Soil Wind Erodibility Factor: This was conside-
red of important indicator to evaluate soil dete-
rioration case especially in the arid and semi-arid
regions. Table (3) presenting that the lowest value
of this indicator was for the series 142CCW and
the pedon P8 which reached -0.250 while the high-
est value of this indicator was within the series
112SCW for the pedon P2 and reached 0.393. The
reason behind the increased percentage of clay
and calcium carbonate in the site P8 is because this
series is originally a limestone compared to pedon
P2 within series originally of sand. Hassan, (2012)
revealed that the soil erodibility is increasing by
removing calcium carbonate of it. The reason for
the negative sign of the obtained value is due to
the increased percentage of calcium carbonate and
exceeding the limit in the formula. Using ARC-
GIS 9.3, results were divided into three categories
and the area of each category was estimated (Fig.
3), low erodibility soil area was 2306 km2 while it
was 566 km2 of the intermediate and 2748 km2 for
the soil of high erodibility (Table 4).
2- Soil crust factor: This indicator was evaluated, and
results are presented in table 3 and ranged (0.075 -
0.942). The highest value was at the pedon P2 wit-
hin the series 112SCW while the lowest was 142-
SCW for pedon P1, such variation between these
values could be due to calcium carbonate, clay
and the rough separates of the soil in addition slop
and physiographic location impact on soil crust-
ing. Results then divided into three categories
(Figure 4), and areas were 3080 km2 for the low
crusting area, 646 km2, and 1894 km2 conseque-
ntly for both categories intermediate and high
(Table 4).
Table 3: soil crust factor and erodibility by wind and water.
Table 4: Areas of the study zone affected by crusting, and water and wind erosion.
Pedons
Soil Erodibility Factor
Soil crust factor
Erodibility Factors
of water
P1
-0.039
0.075
0.314
P2
0.393
0.942
0.160
P3
0.054
0.166
0.274
P4
0.060
0.327
0.278
P5
0.021
0.154
0.295
P6
0.096
0.412
0.235
P7
0.004-
0.174
0.297
P8
-0.250
0.134
0.308
P9
0.136
0.231
0.269
%
Wind
erodibility
%
Soil crusting
ability
%
Water
erodibility
Type
2.74
2306
41.03
3080
54.80
154
Week
ability
31.58
566
10.07
646
11.50
1775
Mid
ability
65.68
2748
48.90
1894
33.70
3691
High
ability
100%
5620
100%
5620
100%
5620
2
Total km

Vol. 15 (3) 2018 Study of rataga basin valley….
847
Figure 3: Map of wind erodibility of the Soil, (source: researcher work done according to results in table 3 and
using ARCGIS 9.3).
Figure 4: Map of soil ability to crust. (Source: the researcher works according to table 3 results and using ARCGIS
9.3)
3- Soil water erodibility
This factor was considered one of the most impor-
tant factors to understand water erosion and its
impact on soil. Results as presented in Table 4
shows values ranged between 0.160 to 0.314,
where the highest value was for pedon P1 within
the series 142SCW while the lowest was for pedon
P2 within the series 112SCW and the reason is
thought to be due to surface profile content of clay
and calcium carbonate in addition to the slope
impact. Results revealed that soil erodibility increa-
sing in areas with a high slope which increasing
the impact of rainstorms and the movement of the
rough. The Results divided the erodibility into
three categories (Figure 5) and their areas were
154, 1775, and 3691 km2 for the low, interme-
diate and the high consequently (Table 4). It can
be concluded that most of study area have high
ability to wind and water erosion while most of
Weak
Moderate
High
International board
wind erodibility
Saladin
International board
Jordan
Saladin

F.M. Jasim et al., Pak. J. Biotechnol.
848
studied areas have weak crust, therefore suitable
management systems should be followed when agricultural practices occurred.
Figure 5: Map of soil water-erodibility, (Sours: researcher work according to the results presented in table 3 and
by using ARCGIS 9.3)
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