The role of vegetation cover in the soil conservation process on Al-Sarawat slopes, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

This research presents a detailed account of the sediment charac- teristics of two Hema slopes (grazed and non grazed) in Al-Bahah district.

Thirty-three sediment samples and 33 photographed quadrates were collected from both slopes.

The study provides a detailed analyses of slope regolith par- ticle size and fabnc study from the photographed slides.

The most important findings of the present study are (a) the mean particle size and relevant statis- tics (Folk and Word) decrease significantly with the distance down both slopes, (b) particle sizes of the protected slope are finer than those of the grazed one, (c) two-dimensional fabric analysis showed that the fabric on grazed area are parallel or sub-parallel lo the slope and random on the non- grazed area, (d) regression models for both slopes showed a good fit but the fitting of the non grazed area was belter than that of the grazed one.

This study is of value for further understanding of the vegetation role in geomorphology through its effects on soil characteristics and spatial variations in erosion process.