Annual Soil Loss Rate Research Articles

Estimating soil erosion in response to land use/cover change around Ghibe III hydroelectric dam, Southern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is a hazard in every part of the world. The small-scale farmers often grapple with low agricultural production and food insecurity. This study was conducted to estimate soil loss in response to land use/cover change in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 around Ghibe hydroelectric III dam in Southern Ethiopia. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was applied using a geographic information system (GIS). Digital elevation model with 30 m to determine topographic factor and supportive practice (P) factor, rainfall from the National Meteorological Institute to calculate the erosivity (R) factor, a digital soil map of the world for erodibility (K) factor, and Landsat 5TM images of 1990, 2000, 2010, and the Landsat 8 OLI of 2020 to determine trends of land use/cover change and the cover management (C) factor were employed. The raster layers of topography, cover management, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, and conservation techniques were processed and multiplied using the GIS platform. The overall accuracy of supervised classification was 89.89. The results showed that the percentage of cropland and built-up areas increased by 11.93 and 32.44%, respectively throughout the three study periods. Conversely, the proportion of forest land, grassland, bare land, and bushland declined by 8.2, 9.3, 10.13, 8.6%, respectively. The average annual soil loss rates increased from 30.95 t ha−1 yr−1 in 1990 to 43.85 t ha−1 yr−1in 2020. This is significantly higher than the maximum threshold rate of erosion for Ethiopian highlands (11 t ha−1 yr−1). The local government officers, non-governmental organizations, and farmers who are trained should strengthen watershed management techniques.

Identification of Spatial Patterns of Soil Erosion Based on the Combination of RUSLE and MCDA in the Ahferom District, Northern Ethiopia

Soil erosion is a widespread concern that is indeed considered to be a significant environmental issue, and it has particularly severe consequences in less developed countries like Ethiopia. An effective watershed management procedure for establishing priority is supported by the identification of erosion-susceptible areas. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to assess soil erosion dynamics and its spatial pattern using a novel methodological framework combining the RUSLE and MCDA. The study used data on land use and cover, topography, soil, and climatic data. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were used to identify soil erosion-susceptible areas and the factors were weighted using a pairwise comparison matrix, and weights were combined using weighted overlay in GIS. Our results indicated that the mean annual soil loss rate was 27.10 t ha−1 yr−1, while the total soil loss from the entire study area was 3.11 Mt. The highest soil loss was observed in bare land (30.54 t ha−1 yr−1) and farmland (23.65 t ha−1 yr−1), which were considered as the most susceptible land types to erosion. Likewise, 10.3% of the study area is very highly susceptible; 20.2% is highly susceptible, 24.2% of the area is moderately susceptible, 27.1% is low, and 18.2% has very low susceptibility. The district’s most significant erosion-susceptible areas are characterized by steep slopes that are composed of farmland and bare land. This suggests the majority of the area is susceptible to erosion, requiring interventions to reverse the alarming degradation level. The presented framework has a board application to estimate regional soil erosion and to identify spatial patterns of soil erosion.

Soil erosion assessment using SWAT, in relation withLand use, agricultural practices, and future climate change in a semi-arid catchment in Tunisia

Abstract Soil erosion is a severe environmental concern arising from intensive agricultural uses, land degradation, and anthropogenic activities. This problem threatens agricultural productivity and sustainable development, particularly in emerging countries. Therefore, evaluating soil erosion is essential in conservation, planning, and management on a watershed or basin scale. This study aims to assess the erosion of soil loss in the El Gouazine Watershed, central Tunisia, using the Soil and water assessment tool (SWAT). We define the impact of soil and water conservation management implementation combined with climate change scenario. We identified the spatial distribution of erosion rates based on soil properties, topography, and land use. The observed specific erosion rate of the watershed is estimated at 1.6 t.ha−1.yr−1, whereas according to the SWAT model, the average soil loss rate is 1.4 t.ha−1.yr−1. Furthermore, the obtained results highlight importance of the slope factor in affecting the severity of the soil loss rates in the El Gouazine watershed. It was also demonstrated that it’s urgent to prioritize other measures such as contour cropping or conservation agriculture, to enhance and strengthen the soils’ resistance against the detachment due to discharge water. In this context, this research found that these techniques decrease considerably the soil loss by 22% for the strip cropping, 33% for the No-tillage, and 72% for the bench terracing. Moreover, these farming techniques, contribute at the same time to the amelioration of the water balance by reducing the evapotranspiration and enhancing the soil water storage. To go further in this study a soil erosion forecast using the worst-case scenario for climate change RCP 8.5 was conducted. an overview of the future soil erosion patterns is obtained. We noticed then a decrease of the average annual soil loss rate until 2050 and then a prominent increase from 2051 to 2100.

Evaluation of soil erosion rate using geospatial techniques for enhancing soil conservation efforts

According to reports, Ethiopia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the worst affected by soil erosion. It has both on-site and off-site consequences on biophysical and socioeconomic settings in an area. The study area is heavily affected by soil erosion forming diverse erosion structures, particularly in the upper course of the watershed. Hence, this work seeks to estimate the geographically distributed annual soil loss rate and mapping of soil erosion hazard hotspot areas in the watershed using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) adapted to Ethiopian conditions. The RUSLE parameters, such as rainfall erosion factor (R-factor), soil erodibility factor (K-factor), slope steepness and slope length factor (LS-factor), land cover factor (C-factor), and conservation practice factor (P-factor) were considered as data input for the analysis to quantify the soil loss rate in the study area. A digital elevation model (DEM) with a 12.5 × 12.5-meter resolution was employed for catchment delineation and determination of the LS factor.The mean yearly rainfall data from the surrounding rain gauge stations was used to analyze the R-factor. The results of the current conditions showed that the average typical soil loss rate from the entire watershed is 23.8 t ha-1 yr-1, and the quantity of soil loss from the study area ranged from 0 to 776.71tan /ha-1 yr-1. Nonetheless, Tiro Afeta experiences mean soil erosion at a rate of roughly 50.2 t ha-1 yr-1, exceeding the acceptable threshold of 11 t ha-1 yr-1. Determining the sustainability of soil production requires assessment, particularly in cases where significant yearly soil erosion occurs. Due to intensive agricultural activities in the Xiro Afeta watershed, significant soil erosion is predominantly occurring in thissteep upper region. Consequently, this area urgently requires appropriate soil protection measures.

Using USLE, GIS and remote sensing for the soil loss assessment in the National Park of Theniet El Had, Algeria

Soil water erosion is one of the problems that affect the environment, agriculture and social life by threatening several land surfaces. The objective of this study is to use the USLE model, GIS and remote sensing (RS) to estimate the annual rate of soil loss by water erosion in the Theniet El Had National Park (THNP) which belongs to the mountainous ecosystem of Djebel El Meddad, located in the northwest of Algeria. The use of the USLE model takes into account the five factors controlling water erosion, namely: the rain erosivity (R) determined from the annual rainfall data, the soil erodibility (K) developed from soil survey data, the slope lengths (LS) generated by using DEM, the vegetation cover (C) by the use of RS data and erosion control management practices (P) by field trips. The integration of these factors made it possible to establish the quantitative map of the annual rate of soil loss varying between 0.02 and 55.10 (t/ha.year), with an average of around 6.64 (t/ha.year). Five erosion aggressiveness classes are used; very weak, weak, moderate, strong and very strong which represent a rate respectively of 23.70, 44.65, 22.72, 4.41 and 4.52 % of the study area surface. The areas with high and very high erosion rates are located in the north having a very rugged relief and low vegetation cover. This study can be used in the mountainous ecosystems and it will make it possible to set up priority intervention zones to combat the risk of water erosion.

Predicting soil erosion risk using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and geo‐spatial methods

AbstractAnthropogenic activities like overgrazing, deforestation and mismanaged land use accelerate soil erosion (SE), causing nutritional and organic matter loss. In this study, we predicted the annual rate of soil loss in the Salt Range, extending south from the Pothohar plateau, Pakistan, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The RUSLE model parameters and erosion probability zones were estimated using remote sensing and Geo‐Spatial methods. The annual average soil loss rates were calculated by considering five geo‐environmental factors, that is, slope length and steepness (LS), rainfall erosivity (R), cover management (C), soil erodibility (K), and conservation practice (P) range from 0–559 527, 1404–4431, 0–1, −0.14 to 1.64, and 0.2–122 respectively. This research determined that the yearly average rate of SE in the Salt Range varies from over 50 to above 350 . The distribution of land area across different SE probability zones reveals that a small portion (2.11%) is classified as High, a moderate portion (7.13%) falls under the category of Moderate, while the majority (90.7%) is classified as Low in terms of proneness towards erosion. The land devoid of vegetation and characterized by steep slopes is especially prone to SE. The Salt Range is highly vulnerable to SE risk due to climatic variations and improper land use practices. The result provides a spatial distribution of SE across the salt range, utilized for management planning processes and conservation at the policy level among decision‐makers and land‐use planners.

Predicting the Impacts of Land Use/Cover and Climate Changes on Water and Sediment Flows in the Megech Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin

This study assessed the impacts of the land use/cover (LULC) and climate changes on the runoff and sediment flows in the Megech watershed. The Geospatial Water Erosion Prediction Project (GeoWEPP) was used to assess LULC and climate changes’ impact on runoff, soil loss, and sediment yield. The QGIS 2.16.3 plugin module for land use change evaluation (MOLUSCE) tool with the cellular automata artificial neural network (CA-ANN) was used for LULC prediction based on historical data and exploratory maps. Two commonly used representative concentration pathways (RCPs)—4.5 and 8.5—were used for climate projection in the 2030s, 2050s, and 2070s. The LULC prediction analysis showed an expansion of cropland and settlement areas, with the reduction in the forest and rangelands. The climate projections indicated an increase in maximum temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, particularly with increased wet months and reduced dry periods. The average annual soil loss and sediment yield rates were estimated to increase under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate scenarios, with a more noticeable increase under RCP8.5. By integrating DEM, soil, land use, and climate data, we evaluated runoff, soil loss, and sediment yield changes on only land use/cover, only climate, and the combined impacts in the watershed. The results revealed that, under all combined scenarios, the sediment yield in the Megech Reservoir was projected to substantially increase by 23.28–41.01%, showing a potential loss of reservoir capacity. This study recommends strong climate adaptation and mitigation measures to alleviate the impact on land and water resources. It is possible to lessen the combined impacts of climate and LULC change through implementing best-management practices and adaptation strategies for the identified scenarios.

Modelling, quantification and estimation of the soil water erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation with Sediment Delivery Ratio and the analytic hierarchy process models

AbstractThis research used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) model. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, while also incorporating the use of a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) to predict the annual soil loss rate and spatialise the processes of water erosion at the scale of the Loukkos Watershed, Morocco. The RUSLE model and AHP parameters were estimated using RS data, and the erosion vulnerability zones were determined using GIS. We used five parameters, including precipitation erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, vegetation cover, and soil erosion control practices in the RUSLE. For the AHP technique, we used seven geo‐environmental factors, including annual average precipitation, drainage density, lineament density, slope, soil texture, land use/land cover and landform maps. The results of RUSLE indicated that the average annual soil loss varied from 0 to 2388.27 . The total estimated annual potential soil loss was approximately 40 790 220.11 , and a sediment yield estimated by RUSLE‐SDR was 8 647 526.66 , equivalent to 6.65 Mm3. This value is very close to the measured value of 6.81 Mm3, for a difference of 0.16 Mm3. Furthermore, the results of the AHP indicate that the soil erosion potential index varies from 0 to 0.205315 . Overall, nearly 13.7% of the area suffered from severe soil erosion exceeding 50 . Approximately 80% of the Loukkos Watershed area experienced only slight erosion, while the remaining 6% incurred moderate erosion. Integrating GIS and RS into the RUSLE model and AHP helped us robustly estimate the extent and degree of erosion risk. Territorial decision‐makers should adopt our results to develop soil conservation strategies, water management plans and other necessary soil and water conservation measures for this region.

Quantifying soil erosion and soil organic carbon conservation services in indian forests: A RUSLE-SDR and GIS-based assessment

Indian forests, having sixteen types of vegetation, provide various ecosystem services. Forests reduce water erosion of soil, reduce floods and conserve low river flow during dry seasons. Present study estimated annual sedimentation, texture, soil organic carbon control service of forests of India using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) approach through GIS technique along with identifying important drivers responsible for erosion in forests. The soil erosion control service was based on five factors viz., rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope, crop management, conservation practice factor and SDR across the various forest dominated river basins. Geo-detector modelling was performed to evaluate environmental drivers responsible for soil erosion. Valuation of soil control service of the India’s forests was estimated based on damage and replacement cost method. Annual soil loss rate was maximum in Tropical Thorn Forest and in Ganga River basin. Maximum sediment control and SOC conservation against the soil erosion control service by India’ forests were due to Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest with a total annual sedimentation control and SOC conservation of 33,056,560 tonnes and 3,31,115.06 tonnes, respectively. The conservative estimate of the economic value of soil conservation service by the forests of India was US$ 535.6 M with an average of 4.40 US$ ha−1 and a maximum share of value for Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest i.e. 294.18 million US$ and average maximum value for Littoral and Swamp Forest (28.91 US$ ha−1). The soil erosion in Tropical and Sub-tropical Forest was influenced by the interactive effects between NDVI and Bulk Density. In contrast, soil erosion in the temperate and alpine area was influenced by anthropogenic activity in combination with climatic factors. Present study accounts the role of India’s forests for the soil conservation service and may provide inputs to implement forest and reservoir management strategies besides providing information for Integrated Watershed management and Catchment Treatment Plans.

Assessment of soil erosion and prioritization of conservation and restoration measures using RUSLE and Geospatial techniques: the case of upper Bilate watershed

Soil erosion is still a vector of environmental and economic concern affecting most parts of the world, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries. Nevertheless, recent human activities in the hills, coupled with poor conservation measures and practices, could have amplified the rate at which soil is lost in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. This study focuses on quantifying and prioritizing micro-watersheds that require conservation actions by piloting spatial modeling of soil loss in the upper Bilate watershed. Sentinel image, soil, DEM, rainfall, and support practice data were used. A Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) using GIS and satellite images was applied. The estimated average annual soil loss rate was demonstrated to be 24.1 t ha−1yr−1 and varied between 0.05 and 498.24 t ha−1yr−1. About 51.2% of the total revealed has a high soil truncation trait, of which 40% of the cropland has exceeded the soil loss tolerances of Ethiopia and tropical regions. The most affected micro-watersheds are MWS 16, 8, 6, and 3, which contributed 39.4% of the average annual loss rate, indicating the hotspots of soil loss problems in the region. This will have far-reaching off-site impacts on food security, soil productivity, human lives, infrastructures, and ecosystem service provisions.

Analysis of erosion hazard level and land rehabilitation pattern with the RUSLE method based on GIS at Wai Tala Watershed in West Seram Regency Maluku Province

This study used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to estimate the annual rate of soil loss, map erosion factors, and recommend a suitable pattern of land rehabilitation in Wai Tala watershed, Regency of Western Seram. The research material used in this study were rainfall data for 38 years, Digital Elevation Model Nasional (DEMNAS) Image Map, Rupa Bumi Indonesia (RBI), geology, soil, land use, and watershed boundaries of Maluku Province. Field research was conducted on 187 land units, and each land unit contained RUSLE erosion factors: topography, soil type, and land use. The spatial distribution of erosion factors was processed using the Arc.GIS10.8, and the soil erosion rates were estimated using the RUSLE method, then corrected using the land degradation model developed in small islands in Maluku. The results showed that the level of erosion hazard in the Wai Tala watershed was none to slight (mean = 3.54 t/ha/yr), moderate erosion (21.52 t/ha/yr), high erosion (110.01 t/ha/yr), and very high erosion (252.84 t/ha/yr). The recommended land rehabilitation patterns that can reduce annual soil loss lower than the tolerable limit are maintaining the none to slight erosion areas with the present land uses in particular primary and secondary forests, and with reforestation or agroforestry patterns combined with low to high-density garden plants or with low to high densities cover crop at the moderate to very high erosion areas.

Anticipating Soil Erosivity of Kulfo Watershed in the Southern Main Ethiopian Rift in Response to Changes in Land Use and Land Cover

This study evaluates the land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics that play an indispensable role in the degradation and deterioration of soil and water quality affecting the natural resources throughout the Kulfo watershed in Ethiopia. Directed image classification is initiated for satellite images to study the watershed. The image classification is categorized into ten different LULC classes with validation of ground control points. A Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was used to generate the average soil loss of the watershed. The model involves the Rainfall Erosivity factor (R), Soil Erodibility factor (K), Length and Slope factor (LS), Cover Management factor (C), and Support Practice factor (P). The dynamics of LULC change and rainfall erosivity over the past 30 years have been interpreted using maps from 1990, 2005, and 2020 using the C-factor and R-factor. The remaining factors, like K-factor, LS-factor, and P-factor, were kept constant over the period. The results reveal that the average annual soil loss rate (A) of the watershed is estimated to be 138.8 t ha-1, 161.2 t ha-1, and 173.25 t ha-1 per year, for the selected period intervals. During the past three decades, the soil loss rate in the watershed has increased by 34.4 t ha-1 per year. The watershed and sustainable soil and water conservation practices need special attention to mitigate the severity of soil erosion risks to avoid disaster.

Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Alaba Sub-Watersheds of Central Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia

The magnitude of soil erosion rates has been accelerating in the Central Rift Valley Area of Ethiopia due to land use and land cover change (LULCC). This study aimed to analyze the trends and changes in land use and land cover dynamics and to analyze the impact of LULC change on soil erosion over the Alaba Sub-Watershed, Central Rift Valley Area of Ethiopia. This study would help to plan and use appropriate land use planning, soil, and water conservation practices, thereby reducing soil erosion in the study area. The soil loss rates were estimated using an empirical prediction model of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) outlined in the ArcGIS environment. During the study period between 1987 and 2018, the rate of change in cultivated land and bare land was raised by 9.09% and 1.08%, respectively. On the contrary, vegetation cover and grasslands had dropped by –2.03%, and -1.42% respectively. From trends of LULC changes, cultivated land revealed an increasing trend increasing from 181.28 hectares to 351.23 hectares for the period 1987 to 2018, respectively. On the other hand, vegetation and grasslands showed a declining trend from -271.92,-22.66 hectares to -305.91, -124.63 hectares, respectively. The findings of the study generally elucidate that the LULCC has a detrimental impact on soil erosion. The estimated total annual actual soil loss in the study landscape was 25707.77 tons in 1987, 29310.71 tons in 2000, and 31769.32 tons in 2018. It was also found that the mean annual soil loss rate of the study catchment was 22.69t/ha/yr., 25.87t/ha/yr. and 28.04t/ha/yr. in 1987, 2000, and 2018 respectively. About 35% and 42% of the Sub-watershed experienced high to very severe soil erosion in 1987 and 2018, respectively. The results indicate that the estimated erosion rate for about 39 % of the sub-basin area exceeds the maximum tolerable soil erosion threshold and this shows that the erosion risk condition is deteriorating in the study landscape. The top three priority levels delineated for urgent SWC measures represent those areas within the large increase in erosion risk levels, with an area of 188 hectares and accounting for 17 % of the sub-watershed area. Therefore, further detailed investigations based on data from primary and secondary sources would be important in identifying driving socioeconomic forces and consequences of LULCCs and suggesting possible alternative options to establish sustainable resource management practices in the study area.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil erosion response to land use land cover dynamics and climate variability in Maybar watershed, Awash basin, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Soil erosion is a global problem that threatens sustainability and food security by washing away fertile soil, nutrients, and organic matter. Land use changes, land degradation, and soil erosion are increasing, resulting in annual losses of fertile soil and declining crop yields. The objective of this study was to examine how changes in land use and land cover affected soil erosion dynamics and determine which areas should receive priority for soil and water conservation interventions. The study employs remote sensing and Geographic information system techniques to assess the impact of land use and land cover change on soil erosion between 2004 and 2020. The RUSLE model estimates soil erosion rates. Mean annual rainfall, soil data, 2 m DEM, and satellite images are used to input data into the model to determine soil erosion. The study identifies six land use and cover types and shows that significant changes have occurred in bare land and shrubland, decreasing by 25.48% and 6.17%, respectively, from 2004–2020. On the other hand, forest land increased by 20.19%, and cultivated land increased by 3.52%. Additionally, the study evaluated the response of soil erosion to land use and land cover changes, showed that bare land, cultivated land, and grazing land have the highest annual loss. In contrast, forest land, shrubland, and water bodies have the lowest. The analysis of soil erosion risk indicated a decline in the mean annual soil loss rate at the watershed scale, with rates decreasing from 12.8t ha−1 yr-1 in 2004 to 3.21t ha-1 yr-1 in 2020. The watershed is classified into five severity classes, and the study area was divided into five priority categories based on their average annual soil losses. The study emphasized that prioritizing interventions for watershed types with high erosion risks is crucial for reducing on-site soil loss and off-site effects together with conserving water resources. The findings support the importance of long-term watershed management in reducing soil erosion. To effectively reduce soil erosion and improve environmental quality, it is recommended to encourage afforestation and reforestation, develop sustainable land use policies, strengthen soil conservation measures, and improve monitoring and evaluation of land use changes.

SWAT model-based quantification of the impact of land use land cover change on sediment yield in the Fincha watershed, Ethiopia

In recent years, Ethiopia is facing problems due to soil erosion, mainly because of the conversion of natural vegetation into cultivated land to answer to increasing human pressure. Such changes in coverage are fostering soil erosion, which is also affecting dam reservoirs, because of the increasing sediment yield entering the lake. The present study focuses on the Ethiopian Fincha watershed and takes advantage of the potentiality of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, to investigate how land use land cover changes impact soil erosion and the consequent sediment yield entering the Fincha Dam. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated using time series data of stream flow and sediment covering the period 1986-2008, and its performance was evaluated by looking at the coefficient of determination, Nash-Sutcliffe simulation efficiency, and per cent bias. Once validated, the SWAT model was applied to derive sediment yield for the future 30 years, based on forecasted land use land cover conditions. The results show that the mean annual soil loss rate increased from 32.51 t ha−1 in 1989 to 34.05 t ha−1 in 2004, reaching 41.20 t ha−1 in 2019. For the future, a higher erosion risk should be expected, with the annual soil loss rate forecasted to be 46.20 t ha−1 in 2030, 51.19 t ha−1 in 2040, and 53.98 t ha−1 in 2050. This soil erosion means that sediments transported to the Fincha Dam, located at the watershed outlet, increased significantly in the last 30 years (from 1.44 in 1989 to 2.75 mil t in 2019) and will have the same trend in the future (3.08–4.42 mil t in 2020 and 2050, respectively), therefore highly affecting the Fincha reservoir services in terms of reduction of water volume for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. By providing possible medium/long-term scenarios, the present work can help land planners and decision-makers in developing future land management strategies based on actual projections, eventually aiming to reduce soil erosion at the watershed scale and guarantee the sustainable development of the Fincha region and its key hydraulic infrastructures.

Soil erosion assessment by RUSLE model using remote sensing and GIS in an arid zone

ABSTRACT In this research, we used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to predict the annual rate of soil loss in the District Chakwal of Pakistan. The parameters of the RUSLE model were estimated using remote sensing data, and the erosion probability zones were determined using GIS. The estimated length slope (), crop management (), rainfall erosivity (), soil erodibility (), and support practice () range from 0–68,227, 0–66.61%, 0–0.58, 495.99–648.68 0.15–0.25 , and 1 respectively. The results indicate that the estimated total annual potential soil loss of approximately 4,67,064.25 is comparable with the measured sediment loss of 11,631 during the water year 2020. The predicted soil erosion rate due to an increase in agricultural area is approximately 164,249.31 . In this study, we also used Landsat imagery to rapidly achieve actual land use classification. Meanwhile, 38.13% of the region was threatened by very high soil erosion, where the quantity of soil erosion ranged from 365487.35 . Integrating GIS and remote sensing with the RUSLE model helped researchers achieve their final objectives. Land-use planners and decision-makers use the result's spatial distribution of soil erosion in District Chakwal for conservation and management planning.

Historical evolution of gully erosion and its response to land use change during 1968–2018 in the Mollisol region of Northeast China

Gully erosion is one of the most severe types of land degradation, hindering food production and sustainable agricultural development. However, the historical evolution process and the impact of land use change on gully erosion remain unclear. To address this issue, we conducted a field investigation on gully erosion in 2018 and interpreted land use and gullies using historical remote sensing images in 1968 and 1978 over an area of 84.48 km2. The study found that from 1968 to 1978 to 2018, all gully morphological parameters including gully length density and gully areal density increased significantly. The main origin of gully erosion found was from dry farmland. The annual soil loss rate induced by gully erosion was 1.46 mm during 1968–2018. Gully erosion rates were higher during 1968–1978 than during 1978–2018. Furthermore, the length, areal and volumetric erosion rates in gullies formed by multiple gullies merging was greater than that of newly formed gullies (NFG) and gullies developing continuously from a single pre-existing gully, while the widening rate of NFG was highest. The susceptibility of land use types to gully erosion was in the order of woodland < dry farmland < degraded land. The annual average increase in gully area was 871.09 m2 km-2 year-1 for parcels that were converted from woodland to dry farmland, which was 5.56 times and 1.78 times greater than that of woodland and dry farmland maintenance, respectively. Therefore, urgent implementation of ecological land use plans and gully erosion control practices is suggested for this region.

Assessment of soil erosion hazard and its relation to land use land cover changes: Case study from alage watershed, central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Soil erosion by water and wind is among the most crucial land degradation processes in Ethiopia. This is also the case for Alage watershed located in the cental Rift Valley system. This study aimed at assessment of soil erosion hazard and its relation to land use land cover change in the watershed during the period from 1984 to 2016 for a better land management. The study is based on application of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to extract inputs factor values for the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Time-series satellite imageries of Landsat TM 1984, ETM+ 2000 and OLI 2016 were used for land use land cover change detection and determination of cover management (C) factor of the RUSLE. Biophysical data such as rainfall, soil properties, land management practices including soil and water conservation measures within the watershed were collected using field survey and secondary data sources. Slope steepness and slope length factors were derived using Digital Elevaition Model (DEM). Long-term average annual soil loss rates were estimated by the RUSLE integrated with GIS for 1984, 2000 and 2016. Using satellite imageries, the land use land cover and changes within the watershed during the three periods were obtained through a supervised classification with maximum likelihood algorithim. The results of land use land cover change indicated that the proportion of rain-fed cropland, bare land and built up areas increased by 17.4%, 5.9% and 2.9% respectively over the three study period. In contrast the proportion of bush/shrub land, irrigated cropland, grass land, forested areas and waterbodies decresaed by 15.5%, 4.7%, 3.4%, 2.3% and 0.3% respectively during the same period. Estimated average annual soil loss rates showed an increasing trend from 24.3 ton ha−1 yr−1 in 1984 to 38 ton ha−1 yr−1 in 2016. Increasing trends of average annual soil loss rate is attributed to increased proportion of cropland, bare land and built up areas during those periods leading to decreased protective vegetation cover. Hotspot areas within the watershed require implementation of land management practices to prevent further degradation and expansion of gullies. This study is relevant to demonstrate environmental implication of land use land cover change for future land management practices and land use policy in the Rift Valley of central Ethiopia.

Soil Fertility Analysis Using IoT

Abstract: Soil is crucial for economic and social development as it provides the foundation for plant growth and life cycle. Agriculture heavily relies on resources like land and fertilizer to produce food. However, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) reports that the annual soil loss rate in India is about 15.35 tonnes per hectare, which leads to the loss of 5.37 to 8.4 million tonnes of nutrients. This is due to intensive agricultural practices that cause nutrient imbalance and soil depletion, exacerbated by a lack of awareness about soil health. The declining soil health is one of the reasons for stagnant or decreasing crop yields, which will likely worsen in the future. To address this issue, this project aims to use IoT technology to test different types of soil and determine their macronutrient (NPK) and micronutrient values. The measured nutrient values are compared to a dataset of healthy soil samples' ideal nutrient values using an easy-to-use interface that displays pictorial representations. The farmer receives a detailed soil report that compares the soil's micro and macro nutrient values to the ideal values, much like a soil health report card.

Evaluation of Soil Loss and Sediment Yield Based on GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in a Complex Amazon Mountain Basin of Peru: Case Study Mayo River Basin, San Martin Region

This study aims to estimate the average annual rate of soil loss by rainfall in terms of spatial distribution and sediment rate using RUSLE and GIS techniques. Additionally, remote sensing and available soil property information are applied for erosion analysis. The work reveals a very severe type of soil erosion, with the highest mean rate in the steep areas. Annual mean erosion in many parts of the basin is in the range of 0 to 9237.0 t/km2/year with an average of 403 t/km2/year. Approximately 45% (in the upper basin) of the total area has moderate to high soil loss by water, especially in five catchments, namely Serranoyacu, Naranjos, Naranjillo, Yuracyacu, and Tonchima at 886.8 t/km2/yr, 985.1 t/km2/yr, 691.3 t/km2/yr, 567.3 t/km2/yr, and 506.9 t/km2/yr, respectively. Catchment-wise soil loss estimates suggest that these areas are experiencing much higher soil loss in comparison to others; hence, these catchments are prioritized for soil conservation efforts. Sediment rate assessments indicate high sediment deposition along the flow direction of the mainstream of the catchment; in the upper Mayo part, the highest sediment rates are in Yuracyacu, Serranoyacu and Tonchima. Finally, the parts most vulnerable to increased erosion rate are the central part of the basin, which indicates progressive sediment deposition.