Monthly RUSLE soil erosion risk of Swiss grasslands

Abstract

This study presents the first mapping of soil erosion risk modelling based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) at a sub-annual (monthly) temporal resolution and national scale (100 m spatial resolution). The monthly maps show highest water erosion rates on Swiss grasslands in August (1.25 t ha–1 month–1). In summer, the mean monthly soil loss by water erosion is 48 times higher than the mean soil loss in winter. Considering the annual average fraction of green vegetation cover of 54%, the predicted soil erosion rate for the Swiss national grassland area would add up to a total eroded soil mass of 5.26 Mt yr–1. The RUSLE application with an intact 100% vegetation cover would largely reduce the soil loss to an average annual rate of 0.14 t ha–1 year–1. These findings clearly highlight the importance to consider and maintain the current status of the vegetation cover for soil erosion prediction and soil conservation, respectively.