Estimation of soil erosion in indo-gangetic region using revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and geospatial technology

Due to the effect on land degradation, soil fertility, and agricultural production, the soil erosion becomes one of the major environmental problems and concerning issues of the world in the twenty-first century. Thus the investigation of soil erosion loss and risk is very crucial. The present study aims to estimate the potential and actual soil erosion in Haryana (covering a part of Indo-Gangetic regions) using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model integrated with geospatial technology. Input datasets for RUSLE model were taken from various sources includes rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topographic factor (LS), cover management factor (C), and support practice (P) and processed in GIS software platform. The values for these parameters were ranging from 160 to 683, 0.000 to 0.065, 0.0 to 232, 0 to 0.95, and 0.55 to 1 respectively. An updated LULC were mapped using Landsat-8 satellite data of 2021, with an overall accuracy of 84.89% (Kappa = 0.82) covering 8 categories. The erosion rates were varying from 0 to 130 t ha−1 y−1 for both the actual and potential soil erosion. A total of 19,289,370 t y−1 soil erosion was estimated in the State. Most of the State area (99.27%) was under the low-erosion zone (0–5 t ha−1 y−1) due to flat terrain, uniform C factor, and lower P values. The obtained results also reveal that the high/extreme severe soil erosion is spread in the northwest, northern, and eastern parts of Haryana, especially in the hills and riverine areas of Yamuna and Ghaggar watersheds (20–130 t ha−1 y−1) due to high magnitude of R, K, and C. The RUSLE model integrated with geospatial technology provides a quantitative approach to estimate soil erosion, which can be applicable for a large landscape and supports the implementation of conservation and management planning at the local and regional levels.