Survey on Relationship between Morphometric Characteristics of Gullies with Vegetation Distribution (Case Study: Lamerd, Fars Province)

Gully erosion is one of the most significant erosion types. This type of erosion is one of the most important sources of sediment in different regions of the world. Gullies often have different dimensions and complex characteristics and these characteristics may affect the distribution of vegetation. Topographic characteristics of gullies provide complex ecosystem for vegetation establishment. In this study was examined the relationship between morphometric characteristics of gullies and vegetation in Lamerd saline lands. Also according to the Hydrogeomorphic classification, along almost homogeneous gullies was measured valley width, valley depth, channel width, channel depth, channel slope, valley width / valley depth, channel width / channel depth, valley width / channel width, valley depth / channel depth, (valley width / valley depth) / (channel width / channel depth) and vegetation characteristics. Relationship between vegetation distribution and morphometric characteristic were evaluated by statistical tests. The results show that there is most vegetation cover (%) in medium size streams and small size streams have sparse vegetation cover in study area. Ta.spp plant type is associated with large width and depth gullies, Sa.ri-At.le plant type is correlated with medium size width and At.le-Al.ca-Pr.fr plant type is associated with small size width and depth gullies. There is a significant correlation between morphometric characteristics and vegetation cover. The results show that the gullies characteristics determine the percentage of vegetation cover. Differences in the distribution of plant type and plant species studied by multivariate statistical techniques. In conclusion, results of this study show that morphometric characteristics of gullies in saline lands determines vegetation types and plant distribution.