Future projection and assessment of soil erosion and deposition by water in Manipur River basin using USPED model

Manipur River basin is seriously affected by soil erosion. Assessment of soil erosion in such watersheds is useful in identifying causes and associated risks. This study aims to assess spatio-temporal change in soil erosion/deposition in the past, and project it for the future using the Unit Stream Power Erosion/Deposition model based on rainfall erosivity, soil erodobility, soil cover, slope length and steepness factor as the input parameter. From the model results, the area under extreme to slight erosion intensity was found to be 3.82%, 5.54%, 5.44%, 5.28% and 6.74% for the year 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2030, whereas for the deposition it was found to be 3.72%, 4.9%, 5.21%, 5.3% and 6.3% for the year 2007, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2030 respectively. This study also indicates that the study area is suffering from moderate soil erosion but it is most likely to transit into severe in the future.