Comparison of the erosion prediction models from USLE, MUSLE and RUSLE in a Mediterranean watershed, case of Wadi Gazouana (N-W of Algeria)

Abstract

Water erosion is one of the most serious problems of soil degradation in the world, the north of Africa region is particularly exposed to this phenomenon. In fact, the phenomenon gets worse with the climate changes and the adverse anthropogenic environmental interventions. In recent decades, the estimation of soil erosion using empirical models has been a promising research topic. Nevertheless, their application over a large and ungauged areas remains a real challenge due to the availability and quality of the required data. Using the GIS environment, this study aims to estimate and compare the water erosion rates by the three models of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in Wadi Gazouana North-West of Algeria. The estimated specific erosion in the entire wadi Ghazouana watershed surface is 9.65, (t/ha/year), 9.90 (t/ha/year) and 11.33 (t/ha/year) by USLE, RUSLE and MUSLE models, respectively. We can also conclude that USLE, RUSLE and MUSLE soil erosion models produced relatively similar results, however, the MUSLE model showed a higher spatial dispersion of the erosion risk compared to the others. The rain factor in this model was more effective; which explain its higher erosion rate.