Abstract
An erosion model using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) equation derived from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER G-DEM) and LANDSAT 8 is presented in the study. This model can be a cost-effective, quick and less labor-intensive tool for assessing erosion in small watersheds. It can also act as a vital input for the primary assessment of environmental degradation in the region, and can aid the formulation of watershed development planning strategies. The Palar River, which drains into Shanmukha Nadi, is a small mountain watershed. The town of Kodaikanal, a popular tourist attraction in Tamilnadu, forms part of this sub-watershed. This quaint, hill-town has been subjected to intense urbanization and exhaustive changes in its land use practices for the past decade. The consequence of this change is manifested in the intense environmental degradation of the region, which results in problems such as increased numbers of landslides, intense soil erosion, forest fires and land degradation. The nature of the terrain, high precipitation, and intense agriculture exponentially increase the rate of soil erosion. Spatial prediction of soil erosion is thereby a valuable and mandatory tool for sustainable land use practices and economic development of the region. A comprehensive methodology is employed to predict the spatial variation of soil erosion using the revised soil loss equation in a geographic information system (GIS) platform. The soil erosion susceptibility map shows a maximum annual soil loss of 3345 Mg·ha−1·y−1, which correlates with scrub forests, degraded forests, steep slopes, high drainage density and shifting cultivation practices. The erosion map shows that the central region is subjected to intense erosion while the inhabited southern part is less prone to erosion. A small patch of severe soil loss is also visible on the eastern part of the northern fringe. About 4% of the sub-watershed is severely affected by soil erosion and 18% falls within a moderate erosion zone. The growing demand for land and infrastructure development forces the shift of urbanization and agriculture to these less-managed spaces. In light of this scenario, the spatial distribution of erosion combined with terrain and hydro-morphometry can aid in sustainable development and promote healthy land use practices in the region.
Highlights
Soil loss through the natural process of erosion is a serious threat and a major concern worldwide, and, is a sensitive issue in fragile hill and mountain eco-systems
The results of the study show that rainfall erosivity, slope steepness and soil erodibility factors are the important physical parameters that govern soil loss, and that the quantum of soil loss is controlled by the land use patterns of the region
The results of this study suggest that distributed soil erosion analysis using simple techniques can serve as a vital planning tool, where the local economy is dependent on agriculture and pressures on land are very high owing to rapid urbanization, as in this case
Summary
Soil loss through the natural process of erosion is a serious threat and a major concern worldwide, and, is a sensitive issue in fragile hill and mountain eco-systems. Anthropogenic activities, such as mining, infrastructure development, urban expansion, removal of vegetative cover and intense. Water 2018, 10, 1608 agricultural activities, are the major causes of soil erosion. Along with other harmful pesticides, pollutes streams, rivers and ground water. It causes air pollution through emission of gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide [2]. Soil loss is one of the major environmental concerns in India, with an estimated average annual soil loss of 16 Mg·ha−1 ·y−1 covering nearly 53% of the geographical extent [3,4,5,6]
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