scholarly journals Run-off and Soil Loss Estimation Using Numerical Approach in Hard Rock Terrain.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant Kumar Pandey ◽  
Vishal Singh ◽  
Ram Pal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Spatial Data ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Moisture Condition ◽  
Realistic Potential ◽  
Run Off

Abstract The present study reveals the potential run-off estimation, soil erosion and scope of groundwater recharge in the Bundelkhand region in the state of U.P. , India. The estimation of run-off and soil erosion have provided a platform to evaluate the realistic potential for water conservation in the study area. The study area is characterized by occurrence of mild to severe drought conditions with significant run-off and poor infiltration. Geomorphological factors such as land use changes, slope, and nature of soil affect the run-off rate and discharge significantly. Soil map and rainfall data for the study area were acquired to evaluate the hydrological soil group (HSG) and antecedent moisture condition (AMC) respectively. Soil Conservation Services and Curve Number (SCS-CN) method has been used to calculate the run-off volume at the point where river/streams join together while soil loss has been calculated using revised universal soil loss equation of RUSLE model with the input of spatial data sets such as soil texture, rainfall, topography etc. The maximum run-off (355mm) has been estimated in watershed-1 during 2016 and minimum (1 mm) in watershed-4 respectively. The estimated run-off varies from 5.5% to 28% of the total rainfall in the study area, while soil loss is maximum (2.1x106 ton/ha) in the watershed-1. It is a fact that soil loss is in conformity with run-off. This finding provides the roadmap for the selection of suitable artificial recharge structures to augment the groundwater in the study area.

scholarly journals Effects of Vegetation Restoration on Soil Erosion on the Loess Plateau: A Case Study in the Ansai Watershed

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6266
Author(s):  
Hui Wei ◽  
Wenwu Zhao ◽  
Han Wang
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Vegetation Restoration ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Local Soil ◽  
Erosion Environment

Large-scale vegetation restoration greatly changed the soil erosion environment in the Loess Plateau since the implementation of the “Grain for Green Project” (GGP) in 1999. Evaluating the effects of vegetation restoration on soil erosion is significant to local soil and water conservation and vegetation construction. Taking the Ansai Watershed as the case area, this study calculated the soil erosion modulus from 2000 to 2015 under the initial and current scenarios of vegetation restoration, using the Chinese Soil Loess Equation (CSLE), based on rainfall and soil data, remote sensing images and socio-economic data. The effect of vegetation restoration on soil erosion was evaluated by comparing the average annual soil erosion modulus under two scenarios among 16 years. The results showed: (1) vegetation restoration significantly changed the local land use, characterized by the conversion of farmland to grassland, arboreal land, and shrub land. From 2000 to 2015, the area of arboreal land, shrub land, and grassland increased from 19.46 km2, 19.43 km2, and 719.49 km2 to 99.26 km2, 75.97 km2, and 1084.24 km2; while the farmland area decreased from 547.90 km2 to 34.35 km2; (2) the average annual soil erosion modulus from 2000 to 2015 under the initial and current scenarios of vegetation restoration was 114.44 t/(hm²·a) and 78.42 t/(hm²·a), respectively, with an average annual reduction of 4.81 × 106 t of soil erosion amount thanks to the vegetation restoration; (3) the dominant soil erosion intensity changed from “severe and light erosion” to “moderate and light erosion”, vegetation restoration greatly improved the soil erosion environment in the study area; (4) areas with increased erosion and decreased erosion were alternately distributed, accounting for 48% and 52% of the total land area, and mainly distributed in the northwest and southeast of the watershed, respectively. Irrational land use changes in local areas (such as the conversion of farmland and grassland into construction land, etc.) and the ineffective implementation of vegetation restoration are the main reasons leading to the existence of areas with increased erosion.

scholarly journals Modeling Soil Erosion and Landscape Metric Analysis of River Catchments in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumayyah Aimi Mohd Najib
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Shannon Diversity Index ◽  
Universal Soil Loss Equation ◽  
Data Sampling ◽  
Shannon Diversity ◽  
Soil Loss Equation

To determine the soil erosion in ungauged catchments, the author used 2 methods: Universal Soil Loss Equation model and sampling data. Sampling data were used to verify and validate data from model. Changing land use due to human activities will affect soil erosion. Land use has changed significantly during the last century in Pulau Pinang. The main rapid changes are related to agriculture, settlement, and urbanization. Because soil erosion depends on surface runoff, which is regulated by the structure of land use and brought about through changes in slope length, land-use changes are one of many factors influencing land degradation caused by erosion. The Universal Soil Loss Equation was used to estimate past soil erosion based on land uses from 1974 to 2012. Results indicated a significant increase in three land-use categories: forestry, built-up areas, and agriculture. Another method to evaluate land use changes in this study was by using landscape metrics analysis. The mean patch size of built-up area and forest increased, while agriculture land use decreased from 48.82 patches in 1974 to 22.46 patches in 2012. Soil erosion increased from an estimated 110.18 ton/km2/year in 1974 to an estimated 122.44 ton/km2/year in 2012. Soil erosion is highly related (R2 = 0.97) to the Shannon Diversity Index, which describes the diversity in land-use composition in river basins. The Shannon Diversity Index also increased between 1974 and 2012. The findings from this study can be used for future reference and for ungauged catchment research studies.

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.

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 MODELLING AND MAPPING OF SOIL EROSION ON THE OUED EL MALLEH CATCHMENT USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

2013 ◽  
pp. 302-307
Author(s):  
Omar El Aroussi
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Rusle Model

In Morocco, the spectacular expansion of erosive processes shows increasingly alarming aspects. Due to the considerable costs of detailed ground surveys for studying this phenomenon, remote sensing is an appropriate alternative for analyzing and evaluating the risks of the expansion of soil degradation. According to an FAO study (2001), Erosion threatens 13 million ha of cropland and rangeland in northern Morocco and induces an estimated average water storage capacity loss of 50 million m3 each year through dam silting. The lost water volume could potentially be used to irrigate 5000 to 6000 ha / year. This study analyses soil erosion on the Oued El Malleh catchment, a 34 km2 catchment located in the north of Fez (Morocco). This contribution aims at mapping the spatio-temporal evolution of land use and modelling the erosion and sedimentation processes using the well known RUSLE model. Land use changes were assessed using Landsat-5 TM and Landsat-7 ETM+ images, from the 1987-2011 periods which were validated by field studies. The images were first georeferenced and projected into the Moroccan coordinate system (Merchich North) then processed to evaluate soil loss through a GIS package (Idrisi Andes Software). These static assessments of soil loss were then used in a deposition/sedimentation algorithm to model soil loss propagation to the downstream. The soil loss averages determined by the model vary between 1.09 t/ha/yr as a minimum value for the reforested lands and 169.4 t/ha/yr as a maximum value for the uncultivated lands (badlands). The latter generally correspond to Regosols or low protected soils located on steep slopes. In comparison with RUSLE, the sedimentation model yields lower values of soil losses; only 97.3 t/h/year for the uncultivated lands, and -0.34 t/ha/year in the reforested land, indicating an on-going sedimentation process. By taking into account the temporal variability of erosion and deposition jointly lower values of soil erosion are calculated by the RUSLE model. However, despite this decline, land degradation problems are still important due to the combination of land use and local lithology. The results of this study were used to indentify areas where interventions are needed to limit land degradation processes.

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.

scholarly journals Land Use and Land Cover Changes and Its Impact on Soil Erosion in Stung Sangkae Catchment of Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9276
Author(s):  
Nareth Nut ◽  
Machito Mihara ◽  
Jaehak Jeong ◽  
Bunthan Ngo ◽  
Gilbert Sigua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Hot Spot ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Mekong River Commission ◽  
The Impact

Agricultural expansion and urban development without proper soil erosion control measures have become major environmental problems in Cambodia. Due to a high population growth rate and increased economic activities, land use and land cover (LULC) changes will cause environmental disturbances, particularly soil erosion. This research aimed to estimate total amounts of soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model within a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. LULC maps of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) 2002 and Mekong River Commission (MRC) 2015 were used to evaluate the impact of LULC on soil erosion loss in Stung Sangkae catchment. LULC dynamics for the study periods in Stung Sangkae catchment showed that the catchment experienced a rapid conversion of forests to paddy rice fields and other croplands. The results indicated that the average soil loss from the catchment was 3.1 and 7.6 t/ha/y for the 2002 and 2015 periods, respectively. The estimated total soil loss in the 2002 and 2015 periods was 1.9 million t/y and 4.5 million t/y, respectively. The soil erosion was accelerated by steep slopes combined with the high velocity and erosivity of stormwater runoff. The spatial distribution of soil loss showed that the highest value (14.3 to 62.9 t/ha/y) was recorded in the central, southwestern and upland parts of the catchment. It is recommended that priority should be given to erosion hot spot areas, and appropriate soil and water conservation practices should be adopted to restore degraded lands.

scholarly journals 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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitiku Badasa Moisa ◽  
Daniel Assefa Negash ◽  
Biratu Bobo Merga ◽  
Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Information System ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Lulc Change ◽  
The Impact

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.

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 Estimating soil erosion risk and evaluating erosion control measures for soil conservation planning at Koga watershed in the highlands of Ethiopia

Solid Earth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegegne Molla ◽  
Biniam Sisheber
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Existing Structures ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract. Soil erosion is one of the major factors affecting sustainability of agricultural production in Ethiopia. The objective of this paper is to estimate soil erosion using the universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and to evaluate soil conservation practices in a data-scarce watershed region. For this purpose, soil data, rainfall, erosion control practices, satellite images and topographic maps were collected to determine the RUSLE factors. In addition, measurements of randomly selected soil and water conservation structures were done at three sub-watersheds (Asanat, Debreyakob and Rim). This study was conducted in Koga watershed at upper part of the Blue Nile basin which is affected by high soil erosion rates. The area is characterized by undulating topography caused by intensive agricultural practices with poor soil conservation practices. The soil loss rates were determined and conservation strategies have been evaluated under different slope classes and land uses. The results showed that the watershed is affected by high soil erosion rates (on average 42 t ha−1 yr−1), greater than the maximum tolerable soil loss (18 t ha−1 yr−1). The highest soil loss (456 t ha−1 yr−1) estimated from the upper watershed occurred on cultivated lands of steep slopes. As a result, soil erosion is mainly aggravated by land-use conflicts and topographic factors and the rugged topographic land forms of the area. The study also demonstrated that the contribution of existing soil conservation structures to erosion control is very small due to incorrect design and poor management. About 35 % out of the existing structures can reduce soil loss significantly since they were constructed correctly. Most of the existing structures were demolished due to the sediment overload, vulnerability to livestock damage and intense rainfall. Therefore, appropriate and standardized soil and water conservation measures for different erosion-prone land uses and land forms need to be implemented in Koga watershed.

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