Preparation of Erosion Susceptibility Map of Dhaman Khadi Sub-Watershed in Eastern Gujarat Using ArcGIS Interface

Abstract

An attempt has been made to model land degradation in term of water erosion of selected Dhaman Khadi sub-watershed (7710.64 ha.) in Eastern Gujarat, India through Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation using ArcGIS interface. The average erosivity of 30 years (1986-2015) annual rainfall using standard formula was estimated to be 480.63 MJ mm ha?1 hr?1 per year. The erodibility factor K was computed as 0.236 and 0.177 mt?hr MJ?1 mm?1 per unit R respectively for clay loam and clay soils using modified formula.. 20 m Digital Elevation Model was prepared from Toposheet No. F43N10 by using ‘Topo to Raster’ interpolation method. The slope length factor L was derived from DEM using Unit Stream Power Erosion and Deposition (USPED) Model. The raster layers of slope steepness factor for slope having < 9 % and ? 9 % was prepared separately to form final slope steepness factor map. Cover management factor map was derived based on cropping pattern for the various land cover categories of the study area. The standard conservation practice factor values for cross-sloped agricultural lands were assigned to the attribute table of the intersected map of LU/LC and slope maps to prepare the P factor map. Average gross soil erosion was minimum for evergreen forest while maximum for wasteland without scrub. Highest area covered by agricultural land (i. e. 41.54) of Dhaman Khadi sub-watershed having 33.28 tons/ha/yr gross soil erosion needs immediatetreatment to prevent land degradation. Soil loss tolerance limit of study area was used to derive erosion susceptibility map in order to identify the priority of conservation programs. As all the factors of RUSLE was estimated precisely at sub-watershed level, the study could help for rapid and reliable planning of watershed development programs in combination with the use of RS and GIS technology.