Fractal Features of Soil Particles as an Indicator of Land Degradation under Different Types of Land Use at the Watershed Scale in Southern Iran

Soil particle-size distribution (PSD) is an important soil feature that associated with erosion, fertility, and physical chemical properties. However, very few studies have been carried out to investigate degradation using the fractal dimension (D) of PSD soils from different land-use types in calcareous Iran. For this study, 120 samples (0–20 cm) were collected Fars Province, various basic properties such as organic matter (SOM), texture fractions, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), pH, cation-exchange capacity (CEC) measured. The was determined international classification system for size fraction, D calculated all soils. results study show significantly correlated clay content (r = 0.93) followed by sand −0.54) CEC 0.51). mean values forest areas (D 2.931), a SOM 2.1%, are higher than those agricultural land 2.905 1.6%) pastures 2.910 1.6%), indicating fine particles, particularly clay, preserved but lost pasture We conclude has experienced levels erosion areas.