Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) ECOPERSIA 2322-2700 7 3 2019 07 01 Prioritizing of the Sub-Watersheds using the Soil Loss Cost Approach (A Case Study; Selj-Anbar Watershed, Iran) 161 168 17265 EN Z. Chatrsimab Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing Department, Natural Resources & Environment Faculty, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University , Tehran, Iran M.H. Ghavimi Panah Watershed Management Sciences & Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Sari, Iran A.R. Vafaeinejad Structural & Geotechnical Engineering Department, Civil, Water & Environmental Engineering Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran Z. Hazbavi Watershed Management Engineering Department, Natural Resources Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran S. Boloori Geographic Information Systems & Remote Sensing Department, Natural Resources & Environment Faculty, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University , Tehran, Iran Journal Article <strong>Aims:</strong> The present study has used results of the application of Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in integrated with the economic cost of soil loss to prioritize sub-watersheds of Selj-Anbar Watershed in Mazandaran Province, northern of Iran.<span dir="RTL"></span><br> <strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> Overlay of five input layers of RUSLE model, viz., rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover and management (C) and support and conservations practices (P) factors has been done in Geographical Information system (GIS) platform for the study watershed. Then, the soil loss and sedimentation cost have assessed using soil nutrient depletion analysis. In this method, monetary value to the depleted nutrients based on the cost of purchasing an equivalent amount of used chemical fertilizer in the watershed was assigned.<br> <strong>Findings:</strong> The average soil loss and sediment rates of 4.92 and 1.98 t ha^-1, respectively was obtained for the study watershed. In addition, the direct and indirect costs caused by soil loss during the five-year period in the Selj-Anbar Watershed were obtained 4.32×10⁵and 6.40×10⁵US$ which was totally equal to 10.98×10⁵ US$. The highest (5.59×10⁴ US$) and lowest (1.16×10⁴ US$) annual cost of soil loss was estimated in the sub-watersheds S1-1-1 and S1-1-2, respectively.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Spatial distribution of soil loss and erosion cost could provide a basis for comprehensive and sustainable watershed management. The sub-watersheds with high soil erosion and cost rates deserve superior priority for implementation of conservation activities. https://ecopersia.modares.ac.ir/article_17265_ab43c4e87d82d0c6b0f9b02654aaf23c.pdf