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Estimation of Soil Erosion in Nepal Using a RUSLE Modeling and Geospatial Tool

Summary

Soil erosion, a global concern, primarily affects agricultural lands. This study focuses on generating Nepal's soil erosion spatial distribution for conservation and management planning. Utilizing the RUSLE model in ArcGIS, five factors influencing water-induced soil erosion are considered: rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, cover, and support practices. Basins like Karnali and Gandaki exhibit significant erosion potential. The study classifies areas into 6 risk classes, highlighting 56% of the area needing erosion control. Barren lands and steep slopes show higher erosion rates. Given Nepal's limited monitoring, this modeling approach aids in assessing erosion hazards using remote sensing and automated analysis for effective conservation planning.

Categories:

Research Paper


Writer:

Pooja Koirala, Sudeep Thakuri, Subesh Joshi and Raju Chauhan


Link Source:

https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences9040147


Publisher:

MDPI


Published Year:

2019