Spatiotemporal soil erosion assessment using RUSLE model on geospatial platform for Maharashtra state

Abstract

Soil erosion is one of the most serious problems arising from agricultural intensification, desertification, deforestation, landform degradation and other anthropogenic activities. The soil erosion assessment is essential in planning conservation activities. The erosion modeling can provide a quantitative approach to estimate soil erosion. The present study was focused to estimate the vulnerability of soil loss by using revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) for the state of Maharashtra, India. The parameters of RUSLE model were estimated using geospatial technology. For the years 2000 and 2011, the estimated R factor were found to be varying from 220.21 to 1496.84 (MJmm ha-1hr-1yr-1) and 301.51 to 1509.6 (MJ-mm ha-1hr-1yr-1), while the average K factor was observed to be 0.007 and 0.107, respectively. The slope-length factor was varying from 0.029 to 45344.024. The results of the study showed that 80% area of Maharashtra were having the soil erosion rate in the range of 0-10 (t ha-1yr-1) but the corresponding area had been declined by about 3.23% in the period of 2000 to 2011. The area having soil erosion vulnerability greater than 40.0 (t ha-1yr-1) had increased by about 32% in period of 11 years, which lies in the western coastal part and to some extent in the Northern coastal part of Maharashtra. The average soil erosion rate had increased by about 9% in the eleven years period, which needs very careful attention for appropriate soil and water conservation measures. The results of this study can certainly aid in implementation of soil management and conservation practices to reduce the soil erosion in the study region.