Determining the Efficiency of Forward-Sloped Bench Terraces on Soil Conservation: The Case of the Aydın-Bozdoğan-Alamut Terracing Area

Authors: ALAETTİN TAYSUN, HALİL BAKİ ÜNAL, ALTAN ŞAHİN, HASAN ZAFER VURGUN

Abstract: The study was carried out to determine the efficiency of forward-sloped bench terraces on soil conservation in the Aydın- Bozdoğan-Alamut terracing area. For this purpose, the shape specifications, and physical and chemical properties of the soil that belong to the sample terraces in the project area were determined and the factors of K and LS that are needed for calculating soil losses were are found through the Universal Soil Losses Equation. According to the evaluation, especially the determined factors of K and LS were higher for the sample terraces interfered with by farmers and this result shows that the probable soil erosion will increase in these terraces. The statistical relationships among the soil properties as well as the relationships between the soil properties and the factor K were determined. The relationships which were found to be significant pointed out the criteria for effective soil conservation in terracing projects.

Keywords: erosion, bench terrace, soil conservation

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