GIS based soil loss assessment using USLE method: A case study of Bina river basin, India

Abstract

Soil erosion causes sedimentation in reservoirs, limiting storage capacity by occupying space available for water. This reduction in capacity affects flood control and restricts the amount of water available for different purposes. Combating soil degradation requires estimating soil loss and locating hotspot locations. The purpose of this study is to use high-resolution geospatial data and the Universal Soil Loss Equation model to estimate the rate of soil loss and locate hotspot locations in the Bina basin of Madhya Pradesh, India. Rainfall data was used to calculate the rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil data to determine the soil erodibility factor (K), DEM data to get the topographic factor, and Land Use Land Cover maps to determine the crop cover and conservation practice factors. ArcGIS 10.4 tool was used to integrate different geospatial layers in order to determine the rate of soil erosion from the basin soil. An estimated 144,888.45 tons of soil were lost from the basin annually, with an average annual soil loss rate of 2.26 t/ha/year. In the basin, the average annual rate of soil loss ranged from 0 to 340 t/ha/year. Spatial risk categorisation was 82.31% slight, 13.36% moderate, 3.64% high, 0.53% very high, 0.13% severe, and 0.02% very severe. The findings showed low vegetative cover, a lack of conservation measures, and significant erosion on steep slopes. This assessment provides vital information for policymakers and planners to devise strategies for the sustainable use of soil and water resources.