Abstract
Abstract. Soil erosion by water is a major environmental problem in the Mediterranean areas. It results in land degradation and soil losses, decreases soil structural stability, and increases soil erodibility. Hence, the need for reliable scientific methods for obtaining soil erosion data becomes crucial. The study aims to estimate soil loss in the Moroccan watershed using two soil erosion estimation models and to discuss the differences between those models. The first model used in this study is the improved tillage homogenization model (T-H) which permits to predict the magnetic susceptibility values after erosion, the second one is the empirical model based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation RUSLE. The results showed that: i) higher soil losses using tillage homogenization (T-H) model have occurred in the upper and lower slopes in the cultivated transect, and in the middleslopes and lower slopes in the forested transect; ii) the average of annual soil loss obtained by RUSLE model is about 20.21 t/ha/yr; iii) T-H model allows us to estimate the total cumulative soil erosion during the past and, while RUSLE model is designed for predicting annual soil loss resulting from sheet erosion under given conditions.
Highlights
Soil erosion is a major problem in many regions in Morocco
Soil loss estimated in the soils collected in the Mezguida watershed using the tillage homogenization model (T-H) as improved is related to tillage practice and slope positions
The average soil loss in the Mezguida watershed obtained by the RUSLE model is about 20.21 t / ha/ yr, the erosion map showed that strong loss occupies an important surface of the watershed
Summary
Soil erosion is a major problem in many regions in Morocco. It contributes to soil degradation and the loss of a higher amount of soil. Several erosion techniques and models have been established and proposed to evaluate soil erosion Radionuclide tracer method such as 137Cs has been used to estimate the soil redistribution in the filed caused by erosion and deposition (Hassouni and Bouhlassa., 2006; Ayoubi et al, 2012; Zhang et al, 2015). The 137Cs method allows us to estimate the cumulative erosion only for the last 50 years and cannot give a longer-term estimate of soil loss rates (Royall, 2004; Jordanova et al, 2011) Empirical models such as RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) based on GIS (Geographic Information System) data have been used largely (Renard et al, 1997; Wijesundara et al, 2018); but it depends on numerous input parameters that are not available at all spatial and temporal scales, and leads often to underestimated or overestimated results (Royall, 2004). Tillage homogenization (T-H) model based on magnetic susceptibility parameter has been
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