Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS
Soil erosion by water is a major problem that the Northern part of Algeria witnesses nowadays; it reduces: the productivity of agricultural areas due to the loss of lands, and leads to the loss of storage capacity in reservoirs, the deterioration of water quality etc. The aim of this study is to eva...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Polish Academy of Sciences
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Water and Land Development |
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| Online Access: | http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2017.32.issue-1/jwld-2017-0002/jwld-2017-0002.xml?format=INT |
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| author | Bouguerra Hamza Bouanani Abderrazak Khanchoul Kamel Derdous Oussama Tachi Salah Eddine |
| author_facet | Bouguerra Hamza Bouanani Abderrazak Khanchoul Kamel Derdous Oussama Tachi Salah Eddine |
| author_sort | Bouguerra Hamza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil erosion by water is a major problem that the Northern part of Algeria witnesses nowadays; it reduces: the productivity of agricultural areas due to the loss of lands, and leads to the loss of storage capacity in reservoirs, the deterioration of water quality etc. The aim of this study is to evaluate the soil losses due to water erosion, and to identify the sectors which are potentially sensitive to water erosion in the Bouhamdane watershed, that is located in the northeastern part of Algeria. To this end, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used. The application of this equation takes into account five parameters, namely the rainfall erosivity, topography, soil erodibility, vegetative cover and erosion control practices. The product of these parameters under GIS using the RUSLE mathematical equation has enabled evaluating an annual average erosion rate for the Bouhamdane watershed of 11.18 t·ha-1·y-1. Based on the estimates of soil loss in each grid cell, a soil erosion risk map with five risk classes was elaborated. The spatial distribution of risk classes was 16% very low, 41% low, 28% moderate, 12% high and 3% very high. Most areas showing high and very high erosion risk occurred in the lower Bouhamdane watershed around Hammam Debagh dam. These areas require adequate erosion control practices to be implemented on a priority basis in order to conserve soil resources and reduce siltation in the reservoir. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:38:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-358cf25a95b04d8fa014b430125f789f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2083-4535 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:38:06Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | Polish Academy of Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Water and Land Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-358cf25a95b04d8fa014b430125f789f2023-09-02T21:26:27ZengPolish Academy of SciencesJournal of Water and Land Development2083-45352017-03-01321132310.1515/jwld-2017-0002jwld-2017-0002Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GISBouguerra Hamza0Bouanani Abderrazak1Khanchoul Kamel2Derdous Oussama3Tachi Salah Eddine4University Abou Bakr Belkaid, Faculty of Technology, Department of Hydraulic, Laboratory No 25, BP 119 Tlemcen, 13000, AlgeriaUniversity Abou Bakr Belkaid, Faculty of Technology, Department of Hydraulic, Laboratory No 25, BP 119 Tlemcen, 13000, AlgeriaUniversity Badji Mokhtar, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Department of Geology, BP 12 Annaba, 23000, AlgeriaUniversity Kasdi Merbah, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of civil engineering and hydraulic, Route Ghardaïa, BP 511, Ouargla, 30000, AlgeriaUniversity Hassiba Ben Bouali Chlef, Laboratory of Water and Energy, Hay Salem National road Nr 19, Chlef 02000, AlgeriaSoil erosion by water is a major problem that the Northern part of Algeria witnesses nowadays; it reduces: the productivity of agricultural areas due to the loss of lands, and leads to the loss of storage capacity in reservoirs, the deterioration of water quality etc. The aim of this study is to evaluate the soil losses due to water erosion, and to identify the sectors which are potentially sensitive to water erosion in the Bouhamdane watershed, that is located in the northeastern part of Algeria. To this end, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used. The application of this equation takes into account five parameters, namely the rainfall erosivity, topography, soil erodibility, vegetative cover and erosion control practices. The product of these parameters under GIS using the RUSLE mathematical equation has enabled evaluating an annual average erosion rate for the Bouhamdane watershed of 11.18 t·ha-1·y-1. Based on the estimates of soil loss in each grid cell, a soil erosion risk map with five risk classes was elaborated. The spatial distribution of risk classes was 16% very low, 41% low, 28% moderate, 12% high and 3% very high. Most areas showing high and very high erosion risk occurred in the lower Bouhamdane watershed around Hammam Debagh dam. These areas require adequate erosion control practices to be implemented on a priority basis in order to conserve soil resources and reduce siltation in the reservoir.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2017.32.issue-1/jwld-2017-0002/jwld-2017-0002.xml?format=INTAlgeriaBouhamdane WatershedGISReservoir of Hammam DebaghRUSLEsiltationsoil erosion |
| spellingShingle | Bouguerra Hamza Bouanani Abderrazak Khanchoul Kamel Derdous Oussama Tachi Salah Eddine Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS Journal of Water and Land Development Algeria Bouhamdane Watershed GIS Reservoir of Hammam Debagh RUSLE siltation soil erosion |
| title | Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS |
| title_full | Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS |
| title_fullStr | Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS |
| title_short | Mapping erosion prone areas in the Bouhamdane watershed (Algeria) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation through GIS |
| title_sort | mapping erosion prone areas in the bouhamdane watershed algeria using the revised universal soil loss equation through gis |
| topic | Algeria Bouhamdane Watershed GIS Reservoir of Hammam Debagh RUSLE siltation soil erosion |
| url | http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jwld.2017.32.issue-1/jwld-2017-0002/jwld-2017-0002.xml?format=INT |
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