Soil erosion and its impact on hydro-environment of Tasik China, Pahang

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Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf

Friday 3 july 2015

9:00 - 9:15h at Mississippi (level 1)

Themes: (T) Hydro-environment

Parallel session: 14B. Sediment - River

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Water quality and hydrological features of Tasik Chini catchment was determined for 5 sampling stations namely: Sg. Chini (Station 1), Laut Gumum (Station 2), Laut Jemberau (Station 3/mining area), Melai (Station 4), and Mepatih (Station 5). 7 parametric components were carried out in the field which are temperature, pH, specific conductance, total dissolved solid, turbidity, chloride, nitrate where the value ranges are 29.12ºC - 30.20ºC, 6.22 - 6.86, 0.0158S/m - 0.0299S/m, 15.6 NTU - 38.3 NTU, 0.0102g/L - 0.0192g/L, 0.04607mg/L - 0.1307mg/L, and 4.27mg/L - 13.84mg/L respectively. Total suspended solid analysis was carried out in the laboratory and recorded a value range of 21.2 mg/L to 41.7 mg/L. The mean annual rainfall for the lake is 2581.3mm. Soil loss potential at the catchment is determined by the Universal Soil Loss Equation model which was carried out at 4 locations which are Sg Chini (Location 1 and Location 2), Tg. Batu Busuk (Location 3/mining area), and Kg Tg. Batu (Location 4). Factors required for the calculation of soil loss potential includes rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), topographic factor (LS), land cover management factor (C), and conversation factor (P). R, LS and C values were computed from rainfall data, topographic and land use map. K required the analysis of soil. The erosion rate analysis is supported by physical attributes such as particle size distribution, texture, hydraulic conductivity, and organic matter percentage. Location 1, 2 and 3 has ‘very low’ soil erosion rate logging values of 5.69901 ton/ha/year, 6.41394 ton/ha/year and 2.54859 ton/ha/year respectively. Location 4 recorded 10.154 ton/ha/year in A value which is considered as ‘low’ soil erosion rate. Human activities such as tourism, mining and agriculture have only intensified in recent years. This has caused the deterioration of water quality and hydrological characteristics, as well as the increase in soil erosion rate; consequently might cause worsening of environmental problems and risk of forming extinct lake due to rapid sedimentation.