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A Study of Soil Changes in the Tytam Area and Their Relationship to Soil Erosion in the Region

Organization(s):Um salim alansarih
Country:Oman
Student(s):Asma Alkathiri Ghaya Rafeet
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):Maryam Hobees
Contributors:
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Precipitation, Land Cover Classification, Earth As a System, Soil Characterization, Soil Infiltration, Soil Moisture - Gravimetric, Soil Particle Size Distribution, Soil pH
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-01-14
This research aims to identify the factors that have led to soil erosion in the Tytam area and to study and apply suitable solutions to reduce soil erosion. Several research questions were addressed, including: Has an environmental change occurred in the soil properties of the Tytam area (using comparative analysis and field observation)? What natural factors have contributed to these changes in soil properties? What is the relationship between soil characteristics (soil structure, permeability, salinity, slope angle, vegetation cover, calcite content, and pH) and soil erosion in the study area? To what extent does vegetation cover, specifically Rhodes grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), contribute to reducing soil erosion and improving soil cohesion (experimental approach)? This study examined the environmental changes occurring in the soils of the Tytam area and their relationship to soil erosion, based on the soil protocols of the GLOBE Program. A comparative analysis was conducted between two sites with different levels of erosion exposure by measuring rainfall amount, slope angle, vegetation cover, and soil color, in addition to analyzing soil structure, cohesion, permeability, salinity, pH, and calcite content. The results showed that the erosion-prone site was characterized by a steeper slope, limited vegetation cover, and high soil permeability, which contributed to increased soil loss, particularly during the khareef season when the highest rainfall amounts were recorded. In contrast, the non-eroded site exhibited greater soil cohesion, darker soil color indicating higher organic matter content, and higher calcite levels. Calcite acted as a binding agent between soil particles, improving soil structure and reducing water permeability. To address soil erosion, Rhodes grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), a local plant species suitable for the soil conditions of the area, was cultivated. The results demonstrated an improvement in soil cohesion and an increase in calcite content after cultivation, which is attributed to root activity and soil–microorganism interactions. The study concludes that soil erosion in the Tytam area results from the interaction of several natural factors and highlights the importance of local vegetation cover as a sustainable environmental solution for reducing soil erosion.



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