Irrigation Sciences and Engineering

Irrigation Sciences and Engineering

WetSpass to investigate the effects of land use and plant cover on water balance )Case study: Khafr region of Fars province(

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Esmaeil Mozafari 1
Ali Saremi 1
Hossein Ghorbanizadeh Kharazi 2
Hossein Babazadeh 1
1 Department of Water Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor Department of Civil engineering-water resources management, shoushtar branch, Islamic Azad University, shoushtar, Iran.
10.22055/jise.2024.45894.2115
Abstract
To present efficient methods for suitable use of water sources in the arid and semi-arid areas, it is essential to investigate water balance affected by different parameters. In the present research, to investigate the effects of land use and plant cover on water balance in the Khafr region of Fars province, WetSpass model  integrating the effective variables on water balance in the GIS, was used for a 10-year period (2009-2017). Different layers of climate (potential evapotranspiration), groundwater level, topography, slope and soil properties were used to prepare the digitized maps by GIS. The final maps of evapotranspiration, and long-term recharging of ground water as well as the maps of land use and plant cover were produced. The highest amount of run-off with the average of 37.7 mm per year was observed in the bared areas, along with the average yearly evapotranspiration of 352 mm and the recharge of 1 and 99% in the warm and cold seasons, respectively. WetSpass was able to stimulate the components of water balance favorably. The results of present research can be used for the estimation of water balance components in the Khafr region of Fars province and the similar regions in the world, for the suitable use of water sources to decrease the effects of water stress on the recharge of ground water and subsequent yield production, with respect to the process of global warming. To enhance rainfall efficiency, it is recommendable to avoid the conversion of forests to agricultural lands, and building construction in the region. 
Keywords
arid and semi-arid areas
evapotranspiration
GIS
runoff
water sources
Subjects
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Irrigation Sciences and Engineering
Volume 48, Issue 2
Summer 2025
Pages 115-133

  • Receive Date 24 January 2024
  • Revise Date 12 August 2024
  • Accept Date 14 August 2024
  • Publish Date 23 August 2025