SOIL EROSION IN THE RIVER BASIN OF PROVALA, MONTENEGRO

Use of models in the research of soil erosion processes is at the moment a standard practice and models are necessary tool for better understanding of sediment production and runoff, although their interpretation is limited by large uncertainties, including model parameter uncertainties. In this research we studied the main ecological factors and anthropogenic influences in sediment yield on the Provala basin of Montenegro analyzing the relationships between the physical-geographical, geological, soil, land use, climate characteristics and soil erosion intensity. Real soil losses, Gyr, were calculated on 7541 m^3yr^-1, specific on 597 m^3km^-2yr^-1. The value of Z coefficient was calculated on 0.482 what indicates that the river basin belongs to the 3rd destruction category; erosion process is medium. There is a possibility for large flood waves to appear in the studied basin. The results presented in this paper can provide decision support for watershed managers about where the best conservation measures can be implemented effectively and at low cost in the studied area. The methods we used in this study can also be of interest in sediment modeling for other basins in the Region.