Assessment of soil loss by universal soil loss equation (USLE) model using GIS techniques: a case study of Gumti River Basin, Tripura, India

Soil loss is a serious environmental threat in humid sub-tropical State Tripura. The present study is carried out in Gumti River Basin of Tripura State, North East India having an area of 2492 km2. Long term daily rainfall intensity is very high in this region and that’s why sheet erosion of soil is common phenomena. Spatial distribution of soil loss in the study area was estimated by integrating five essential parameters of universal soil loss equation model in GIS mapping platform (mainly ArcGIS 10.1). Those five parameter are runoff–rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cropping management factor (C), and support practice factor (P). In these study ASTER digital elevation model having 30 m resolution and LISS III image have been used for estimation of LS factor and C factor. The daily rainfall data (2001–2010) of seven rain gauge stations located in the Gumti River Basin and its adjoining area have been used to predict the R factor. Predicted average annual soil loss of the basin has been classified into five categories according to intensity level of soil loss. The high rate (>45 t ha−1 year−1) of soil erosion was found along the main course of Gumti River, interhill valley portion and also the flood plain area of the basin, whereas low amount of soil loss (<10 t ha−1 year−1) was found at densely forested areas and intensely plantation area of the basin. © 2017, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.