Temporal Dynamic of Soil Erosion and Rainfall Erosivity Within Srou River Basin (Middle Atlas / Morocco)

Abstract

Soil erosion is a major cause of land degradation worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In Morocco, soil loss is the most prevalent form of land degradation. The Srou river basin, located in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, has been greatly affected by soil erosion due to physical and human factors. The basin is characterized by an arid and semi-arid climate, with high temperatures, low rainfall, and flash floods, making it particularly vulnerable to soil erosion. Furthermore, the soil is shallow and lacks proper protection from vegetation cover. Livestock and agriculture, mainly consisting of sheep and goats, are the dominant activities in the area. This study employs the rainfall erosivity index (RI) and GIS techniques to evaluate soil erosion in the Srou river basin during three representative years (1995, 1996, and 2010). The objective is to assess the temporal dynamics of soil erosion and its impact in this region. The results indicate that rainfall is irregular and often characterized by intense showers due to climate change. During wet years, the rainfall erosivity index is high, exceeding 200 in 1996 and 2010, while during the dry season of 1995, it was very low, less than 85.