Assessment of soil erosion and sediment yield using erosion potential method: Case study - Vrbas river basin (B&H)

Abstract

Soil erosion is one of the most significant forms of land degradation in the Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mapping of soil erosion in B&H, as in the study area, was realized 30 years ago (1979-1985). The past decades has been marked by the changes which retained visible tracks and caused numerous changes in the intensity of erosion processes. In this paper, the mapping of the recent state of erosion intensity was performed, and then an analysis of changes was made in relation to the state of 30 years ago. The erosion potential method (EPM) was used for mapping the soil erosion and calculation of gross annual erosion and sediment yield. Erosion Map of the Vrbas river basin was made in the scale of 1:25,000. This Erosion Map counts a total of 69 topographic sections and 4,524 erosion polygons (plots). According to the Erosion Map of the Vrbas river basin, 5,666.88 km2 of the study area is affected by erosion, while 621.71 km2 are accumulating sediments. Annual gross erosion in the Vrbas river basin is 1,223,989.60 m3/year, while sediment yield is 366,088.10 m3/year. These research results are important because this is the first soil erosion map for the Vrbas river basin with EPM methodology for the whole river basin on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results can be applied in the field of spatial and urban planning, water and soil management on the local and regional level.