Assessment of soil erosion susceptibility using multi-criteria analysis

Abstract

Soil erosion is a significant challenge for the environment and economy, especially in erosion-prone areas which makes sustainable soil management very crucial. This study uses the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to identify areas susceptible to soil erosion and estimate soil loss. The USLE considers various factors, such as slope characteristics, vegetation management, soil erodibility, and rainfall erosivity. It uses several data sources like soil composition, precipitation patterns, digital elevation models, land usage, and vegetation cover. The study classified erosion-prone zones into low, medium, high, and very high vulnerability categories using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as part of a multi-criteria analysis. The findings reveal that the study area experiences an average annual soil loss rate of 3186.6 tonnes per hectare per year. While 83.3% of the study area has the lowest soil loss rate, though the regions could still be vulnerable to erosion due to steep slopes, high rainfall, and gullies. The Geographic Information System, USLE, and diverse data sources help identify erosion-prone areas with potential soil loss. The study's results are valuable for policymakers and farmers as they provide a foundation for targeted strategies to prevent erosion in the study area and similar regions.