Spatial assessment of soil erosion using GIS-integrated RUSLE in the Wolaita zone, Ethiopia

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Soil Science
• Geospatial Analysis

Background:

• Soil erosion poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and ecological balance.
• Limited assessments of soil loss rates and erosion hotspots exist in the study region, impacting conservation efforts.
• Agriculture is a primary livelihood, making soil health critical for the local population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess annual soil erosion rates and map erosion intensity distribution in the study region.
• To identify critical erosion hotspots requiring immediate soil and water conservation interventions.
• To provide spatially explicit data for guiding sustainable land management practices.

Main Methods:

• The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model was employed.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques were integrated for spatial analysis.
• Data from NASA POWER, FAO DSMW, USGS Earth Explorer, and ESA LULC were utilized within ArcGIS 10.8.2.

Main Results:

• Approximately 9.77% of the region faces high erosion intensity, 6.76% very high, and 0.32% severe.
• Annual soil erosion rates ranged from 0.18 to 486 tons ha-1 year-1.
• The western part of the region exhibited the highest erosion intensity (46.09 to 486 tons ha-1 year-1), linked to low vegetation cover and high rainfall.

Conclusions:

• Urgent implementation of conservation practices like contour farming, terracing, and agroforestry is crucial for affected areas.
• The findings provide critical insights for national strategies on sustainable watershed management, climate resilience, and food security.
• Land managers and policymakers can use this data for effective long-term soil conservation and restoration planning.