Impact of land-use and land-cover change on soil erosion using the RUSLE model and the geographic information system: a case of Temeji watershed, Western Ethiopia

Mitiku Badasa Moisa,Biratu Bobo Merga,Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda,Daniel Assefa Negash

doi:10.2166/wcc.2021.131

Abstract

Abstract The impact of land-use land-cover (LULC) change on soil resources is getting global attention. Soil erosion is one of the critical environmental problems worldwide with high severity in developing countries. This study integrates the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model with a geographic information system to estimate the impacts of LULC conversion on the mean annual soil loss in the Temeji watershed. In this study, LULC change of Temeji watershed was assessed from 2000 to 2020 by using 2000 Landsat ETM+ and 2020 Landsat OLI/TIRS images and classified using supervised maximum likelihood classification algorithms. Results indicate that the majority of the LULC in the study area is vulnerable to soil erosion. High soil loss is observed when grassland and forest land were converted into cultivated land with a mean soil loss of 88.8 and 86.9 t/ha/year in 2020. Results revealed that about 6,608.5 ha (42.8%) and 8,391.8 ha (54.4%) were categorized under severe classes in 2000 and 2020, respectively. Accordingly, the soil loss severity class is directly correlated with the over-exploitation of forest resources and grasslands for agricultural purposes. These results can be useful for advocacy to enhance local people and stakeholder's participation toward soil and water conservation practices.

Highlights

Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem worldwide (Li et al 2014; Ganasri & Ramesh 2016)
More than 50% of the total area of the watershed is grouped under severe category, i.e. the majority of the land-use land-cover (LULC) of the study area is highly vulnerable for soil erosion (Table 7)
This paper reveals the application of empirical soil erosion model such as Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with geographic information system (GIS) to assess the impact of LULC on soil erosion in the Temeji Watershed, Western Ethiopia

Summary

Introduction

Soil erosion is a critical environmental problem worldwide (Li et al 2014; Ganasri & Ramesh 2016). Slope and soil types are the fundamental factors that determine the severity of soil erosion (Kiani-Harchegani et al 2019; Quan et al 2020). These factors are measured using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and the geographic information system (GIS). The RUSLE model is recommended for soil loss estimation due to its flexibility and compatibility with GIS (Pandey et al 2021) This model is compatible with the digital elevation model (DEM) and remote sensing data for the assessment of soil erosion (Kouli et al 2009). Soil erosion is very high in the highland areas of Ethiopia, characterized by steep slopes, and intensive rainfall (Hailu et al 2015; Welde 2016; Moges & Taye 2017)

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Conclusion