Prediction of sediment associated Organic mater loss in a Hyrcanian watershed, Iran

Suspended sediment moving in watershed provides a path way for the transport of sediment associated contaminant. Information on sediment and nutrient export from catchments and about related erosive processes is required by catchment managers and decision-makers. Presently, only the MUSLE model is preferably applied in storm-wise sediment yield prediction in developing country such as Iran, due to a lack of adequate data in one side and necessity of getting access to accurate sediment yield estimates for running developmental projects in other side. The present study aims to estimate the Organic matter (OM) associate sediment due to storm rainfall and runoff in the Kojour forest watershed, Iran. The prediction was made using the MUSLE. The results of the study approved the efficient application of the Calibrated MUSLE in estimating storm-wise OM losses in the study area with an acceptable estimation error of some 33%. The results could facilitate the application of given methods obtained in the present study to other ungauged watershed with similar conditions and leading to the suitable soil and water management.