GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia
Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is a worldwide challenge and make environmental problem that affects crop yields, makes livelihoods difficult, and creates crises. The main objective of this study was to measure soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model in Ho...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023005200 |
| _version_ | 1811161763947741184 |
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| author | Gamtesa Olika Gelana Fikadu Basha Gedefa |
| author_facet | Gamtesa Olika Gelana Fikadu Basha Gedefa |
| author_sort | Gamtesa Olika |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is a worldwide challenge and make environmental problem that affects crop yields, makes livelihoods difficult, and creates crises. The main objective of this study was to measure soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model in Horo district, Western Ethiopia. RUSLE with a Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to quantify soil loss using rainfall, soil, a digital elevation model (DEM), and satellite image datasets as factor value inputs. Those factors are erosivity (R), erodibility (K), topography (LS), cover management (C), and conservation support practice (P) layer values that can be interactively used using weighted overlay in ArcGIS 10.8. The result shows that the maximum and minimum potential annual soil loss of the study area ranged from nil (0.01 t/ha/yr) on plain surfaces to 216.01 t/ha/yr. The average annual soil loss rate in the study area was 13.27 t ha/yr. The highest mean annual soil loss of 216.01 t/ha/yr were observed from farmland and it was the largest portion of the study area, which covered about 64243.02 ha and represented about 73.75% of the total. As a result, forest land (16383.23 ha) was the second-largest, accounting for 18.81% of the total area. Consequently, the study revealed that the farmland was more vulnerable to erosion than other land uses and land cover types. Hence, information on average annual soil loss is important for selecting appropriate conservation measures to reduce on-site soil loss and its off-site effects. Therefore, farmers and other expected bodies should have focused on soil conservation and management practices at the highest soil loss severity classes, which must get priority for conservation by stakeholders, agents, and the government. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:20:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51a59ec96c0948b5828da591e2309b1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:20:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-51a59ec96c0948b5828da591e2309b1d2023-03-02T05:00:57ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-02-0192e13313GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western EthiopiaGamtesa Olika0Gelana Fikadu1Basha Gedefa2Remote Sensing at ESSTI (Addis Ababa University), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Corresponding author.Department of Natural Resource Management, Wollega University Shambu Campus, Shambu, EthiopiaDepartment of Natural Resource Management, Wollega University Shambu Campus, Ethiopia Wollega University, P.O.Box:395, Shambu, EthiopiaLand degradation in the form of soil erosion is a worldwide challenge and make environmental problem that affects crop yields, makes livelihoods difficult, and creates crises. The main objective of this study was to measure soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) Model in Horo district, Western Ethiopia. RUSLE with a Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to quantify soil loss using rainfall, soil, a digital elevation model (DEM), and satellite image datasets as factor value inputs. Those factors are erosivity (R), erodibility (K), topography (LS), cover management (C), and conservation support practice (P) layer values that can be interactively used using weighted overlay in ArcGIS 10.8. The result shows that the maximum and minimum potential annual soil loss of the study area ranged from nil (0.01 t/ha/yr) on plain surfaces to 216.01 t/ha/yr. The average annual soil loss rate in the study area was 13.27 t ha/yr. The highest mean annual soil loss of 216.01 t/ha/yr were observed from farmland and it was the largest portion of the study area, which covered about 64243.02 ha and represented about 73.75% of the total. As a result, forest land (16383.23 ha) was the second-largest, accounting for 18.81% of the total area. Consequently, the study revealed that the farmland was more vulnerable to erosion than other land uses and land cover types. Hence, information on average annual soil loss is important for selecting appropriate conservation measures to reduce on-site soil loss and its off-site effects. Therefore, farmers and other expected bodies should have focused on soil conservation and management practices at the highest soil loss severity classes, which must get priority for conservation by stakeholders, agents, and the government.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023005200RUSLEGISSoil loss and Horo district |
| spellingShingle | Gamtesa Olika Gelana Fikadu Basha Gedefa GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia Heliyon RUSLE GIS Soil loss and Horo district |
| title | GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia |
| title_full | GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia |
| title_short | GIS based soil loss assessment using RUSLE model: A case of Horo district, western Ethiopia |
| title_sort | gis based soil loss assessment using rusle model a case of horo district western ethiopia |
| topic | RUSLE GIS Soil loss and Horo district |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023005200 |
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