Application of a RUSLE-based soil erosion modelling on Mauritius Island

Soil Research ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rody Nigel ◽  
Soonil D. D. V. Rughooputh
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Total Soil ◽  
Mauritius Island ◽  
Soil And Water

Soil erosion by water is one of the most important natural resources management problems in the world. The damages it causes on-site are soil loss, breakdown of soil structure, and decline in organic matter content, nutrient content, fertility, and infiltration rate. Lands with the highest erosion risk on Mauritius Island are crop cultivations (sugarcane, tea, vegetables) on erosion-susceptible terrain (slopes >20% coupled with highly erodible soils). The locations of such lands on Mauritius were mapped during previous, qualitatively based regional-scale erosion studies. In order to propose soil conservation strategies, there is a need to apply a more quantitative approach to supplement the previous, qualitatively based studies. This paper reports an application of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) within a geographical information system in order to estimate soil loss on the island, and particularly for the high-erosion areas. Results show that total soil loss on the island is estimated at 298 259 t year–1, with soil loss from high-erosion areas summing 84 780 t year–1 (28% of total soil loss). If all of the high-erosion areas were afforested, their soil loss would be reduced to 10 264 t year–1, i.e. a reduction of 88% for the high-erosion areas and a reduction of 25% for the island. This study thus calls for soil and water conservation programs directed to these erosion-prone areas before the land degradation and environmental damage they are causing become irreversible. The methodological approach used in this work to quantitatively estimate soil loss from erosion-prone areas can be adopted in other countries as the basis for a nationwide erosion assessment in order to better inform environmental policy needs for soil and water conservation.

scholarly journals Soil Erosion and Crop Productivity Loss in Palghar and Thane Districts of Maharashtra

Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. V. Shejale ◽  
◽  
S. B. Nandgude ◽  
S. S. Salunkhe ◽  
M. A. Phadtare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Productivity Loss ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Soil And Water

Present research work was carried out on soil erosion and crop productivity loss in Palghar and Thane districts. The study also describes tolerable soil loss and relationship between top-soil loss and yield loss. The estimated average annual soil loss was 40.45 t ha-1yr-1 before adoption of the soil and water conservation measures (by USLE method) and estimated average tolerable soil loss was 9.36 t ha-1 yr-1, for Palghar district. Similarly, for Thane district the estimated average annual soil loss and tolerable soil loss were found to be 35.89 t ha-1 yr-1 and 9.61 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively for Thane district. The estimated average conservation practice factor (P) factors were obtained as 0.32 for Palghar district and 0.30 for Thane district to bring the soil loss below the tolerable limit. After adoption of soil and water conservation measures, the estimated soil loss were 9.02 t ha-1 yr-1 and 9.38 t ha-1 yr-1 for Palghar and Thane districts, respectively.

scholarly journals The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veerle Vanacker ◽  
Armando Molina ◽  
Miluska Rosas-Barturen ◽  
Vivien Bonnesoeur ◽  
Francisco Román-Dañobeytia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Erosion Mitigation ◽  
Soil And Water ◽  
Loss Rates

Abstract. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable management aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population, and livelihoods. We conducted a systematic review of 121 case studies from the Andes to answer the following questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? and (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon (SOC) of topsoil, and soil loss rates at the plot scale. In areas with protective vegetation and/or soil and water conservation measures, the SOC of topsoil is –on average– 1.3 to 2.8 times higher than in areas under traditional agriculture. Soil loss rates in areas with natural infrastructure were reported to be 38 % to 54 % lower than rates measured in untreated croplands. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

Natural infrastructure interventions and their effect on soil erosion mitigation in the Andes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Molina ◽  
Veerle Vanacker ◽  
Miluska Rosas-Barturen ◽  
Boris Ochoa-Tocachi ◽  
Vivien Bonnesoeur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Erosion Mitigation ◽  
Andes Region ◽  
Soil And Water

<p>The Andes region is prone to soil erosion because of its steep topographic relief, high spatio-temporal variability in precipitation and heterogeneity in lithological strength. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable land and water management, referred here as natural infrastructure interventions, aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population and livelihoods. In this study, we present a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature involving more than 120 local case-studies from the Andes. Three major categories of natural infrastructure interventions were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. The analysis was designed to answer the following research questions: (1) Which soil erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure interventions across the Andean range? (2) What is the overall impact of implementing natural infrastructure interventions for on-site and off-site erosion mitigation?</p><p>The systematic review shows that the effectiveness of protective vegetation on soil erosion mitigation is the most commonly studied characteristic, accounting for more than half of the empirical studies. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators that were commonly used in soil erosion research, our review identified two indicators to be particularly suitable for the analyses of the effectiveness of natural infrastructure interventions: soil organic carbon (SOC) of the topsoil, and soil loss rates at plot scale. The implementation of soil and water conservation measures in areas under traditional agriculture had positive effects on SOC (1.28 to 1.29 times higher SOC than in agricultural land). Soil loss rates were 54% lower when implementing SWC than on cropland. When implementing SWC in rangeland, the data indicated an increase in soil loss rate by 1.54 times. Untreated degraded land is reported to have significantly higher soil loss and specific sediment yield compared to cropland.</p><p>The results of this systematic review allows to assess the overall effectiveness of commonly used natural infrastructure interventions, which can guide policy and decision making in the Andes. Similarly, the review identified critical gaps in knowledge that must be attended by more comprehensive research to consider the high spatiotemporal variability of the Andes region.</p>

scholarly journals Impacts of Land Cover and Greenness Change on Soil Loss and Erosion Risk in Damota Area Districts, Southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Mamush Masha ◽  
Teshome Yirgu ◽  
Mulugeta Debele
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Erosion Risk ◽  
Aster Gdem ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Soil And Water

Soil erosion is a key problem in Ethiopia in view of tropical climate, lack of vegetation, and landscape relief. Therefore, soil and water conservation (SWC) measures have been practiced, but their impacts on soil loss have not been estimated adequately. The RUSLE modeling was applied using satellite imageries, ASTER GDEM, rainfall, and soil data to estimate total annual soil loss for a 100 km2 hilly and highly populated area in Ethiopia. Soil loss decreased in the Damota districts from 21 to 13 million tons from 2000 to 2020. Similarly, the average annual soil loss decreased by 36%. Very slight-risk areas (< 5 t ha−1 yr−1) increased from 42.66 to 53.72%, and very high-risk areas (> 50 t ha−1 yr−1) decreased from 12 to 5%. Soil and water conservation measures showed an important implication against soil erosion through improved land cover and landscape greenness. However, still, the rate of soil erosion is high compared to the soil loss tolerance of 1–6 t ha−1 yr−1 for the Ethiopian highlands.

scholarly journals New Theory of Soil and Water Conservation Conservation

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 064-069
Author(s):  
Zhongsheng Guo
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Optimal Allocation ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Soil And Water

Water and soil loss affects the carbon and nitrogen cycles of terrestrial ecosystems, forest vegetation ecosystem products and services, and ultimately the quality of life and sustainable development of the public. China has the most serious soil erosion in the world, notably on the Loess Plateau. After years of efforts, soil and water conservation in China has developed rapidly, the surface runoff and soil loss in soil and water loss areas have decreased rapidly, and people’s living standards have gradually improved. With these improved living standards, people have higher requirements for soil and water conservation. However, soil and water conservation lacks scientifi c theoretical guidance. In this paper, through comprehensive analysis of relevant literature, a new theory of soil and water conservation is proposed. The results shows that soil and water losses refer to the process of transferring soil and water resources from one place to another, and the consequences of these losses can be divided into positive and negative effects. Soil and water conservation is not only the use of some methods or measures to reduce soil erosion to soil allowable loss requirements, but also to make efficient use of soil and water resources. The construction standard of soil and water conservation measures must be based on the allowable amount of soil erosion and be applied using spatially optimal allocation, and the work of soil and water conservation should ensure regional ecological security and realize the sustainable development of soil and water conservation.

scholarly journals Geographic information system (GIS) based soil loss estimation using RUSLE model for soil and water conservation planning in anka_shashara watershed, southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-27
Author(s):  
Meseret Bekele
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Rusle Model ◽  
Soil And Water

Water induced soil erosion has been continued to threaten the land resources in sub humid northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Human-induced land cover (LC) changes due to improper land management practices are contributing factors in deteriorating soil quality. Soil and water conservation measures have been implemented without site-specific scientifically quantified soil erosion data and priority bases in this regard; this study was conducted with a view to quantifying soil erosion in Anka-Shashara watershed. To do this, we have opted to use the RUSLE model based on geographic information systems. By collecting data on rainfall, soils, vegetation, slopes and conservation practices separately as a layer and determining the pixel values for each of these factors, a quantified assessment of erosion in the basin is obtained. The result reveals that the mean annual soil loss (15.22t/ha/yr) of the most parts of study area falls in tolerable levels and almost 66% (1594 ha), moderate level about 23% and 10% at high level of watershed. The soil loss of watershed is classified in to four main classes. None to Slight rates of soil erosion (0-10t/ha) is cover the almost 66% of watershed moderate about 23% and high about 10% of erosion rate as seen from the erosion rate distribution map. The upstream of catchment needs management and protection of those existing resources and the fundamental attention for SWC as recommended bases. Therefore, to reduce sedimentation problem and ensue sustainability of the watershed need to special attention for implementing recommended SWC intervention at the earlier.

scholarly journals Multicriteria evaluation to identify potential areas for level Fanya juu terrace in Central Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teshome Betru Tadesse ◽  
Setiye Abebaw Tefera
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Watershed Management ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Combination Method ◽  
Topographic Wetness Index ◽  
Central Ethiopia ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background The costs of soil erosion are worsening in developing countries. In recent decades of Ethiopia, government sectors and different organizations are working on watershed management campaigns. Despite achievements, soil loss from cropland was not reversed to the productive limit. Therefore, this study attempts to provide information on appropriate sites for level Fanya juu terrace in croplands located in Sodo watershed, central Ethiopia. Methods A spatial layer of soil loss, land use/land cover, slope, and topographic wetness index was managed using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) system. The suitability class of each layer was made based on the national guideline for soil and water conservation published in 2016. Then the analytical hierarchy process was used to obtain the relative weight of each layer. Finally, the suitability map was generated using the weighted combination method. Result The result shows that 5.5%, 3.2%, and 40.8% of the study area was highly, moderately, and less suitable for level Fanya juu terrace. The remaining is not appropriate at all. Among ground-truthing points collected on an existing terrace, 95% falls into a less suitable class. Assertively, the MCDA provided imperative information. According to pieces of evidence from level Fanya juu terrace, soil loss is estimated to be reduced by 77% in areas highly susceptible to soil erosion. Conclusion Appropriate soil and water conservation measures unto applicable place is a central part of watershed management campaigns. In long run, this could be effective where farmers’ acceptance, proper execution, and regular maintenance of the structure are kept sustainable. In general, procedure followed and results found in this paper can enable an informed decision on farmer’s managed cropland to tackle soil erosion and boost productivity.

scholarly journals Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Soil Loss Assessment Using RUSLE Model -A Case Study of Bareli Watershed, Seoni District of Madhya Pradesh

Agropedology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sagar N. Ingle ◽  
◽  
M.S.S. Nagaraju ◽  
Nirmal Kumar ◽  
Nisha Sahu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Madhya Pradesh ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Rainfall Erosivity ◽  
Rusle Model ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Soil And Water

A quantitative assessment of soil loss was done using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, remote sensing and digital elevation model (DEM) in integrated raster based GIS in Bareli watershed, Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh. GIS data layers including rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C) and conservation practice (P) factors were computed and integrated to compute average annual soil loss in the watershed. The watershed has been delineated into very low (<10 t ha-1yr-1), low (10–25 t ha-1yr-1), moderate (25–50 t ha-1yr-1), severe (50–100 t ha-1yr-1) and very severe (>100 t ha-1yr-1) soil erosion classes. The study indicated that 63.8% of TGA is under very low to low followed by 14.3% of TGA under moderate soil erosion class. The severe and very severe erosion classes constitute 21.9 % of TGA which warrant immediate attention for preparing strategies for soil and water conservation measures. Various soil and water conservation measures have been suggested based on landforms, soil, slope, land use and soil loss for sustainable management of land resources to improve the productivity of these lands.

Soil and Water Conservation Society and the Construction of Ecological Civilization City

2014 ◽  
Vol 977 ◽  
pp. 290-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Qiang Yu ◽  
Qiang Gao ◽  
Wen Feng Ding
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Ecological Civilization ◽  
Soil And Water Loss ◽  
The Social ◽  
The City ◽  
Soil And Water

In recent years , with the acceleration of the process of China's modernization cities , soil erosion and lead to many more serious environmental problems . This paper describes the harm to the social construction of ecological civilization city soil and water loss,analyzed the causes of soil erosion,and finally illustrates the importance of soil and water conservation of the city and puts forward some suggestions for the construction of soil and water conservation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document