Assessing Post-Monsoon Seasonal Soil Loss over Un-Gauged Stations of the Dwarkeswar and Shilabati Rivers, West Bengal, India

Abstract

This study employs the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to evaluate soil loss within the Shilabati and Dwarkeswar River Basin of West Bengal, serving as a pilot investigation into soil erosion levels at ungauged stations during the post-monsoon season. Detailed data for temperature, precipitation, wind speed, solar radiation, and relative humidity for 2000–2022 were collected. A land use map, soil map, and slope map were prepared to execute the model. The model categorizes the watershed region into 19 sub-basins and 227 Hydrological Response Units (HRUs). A detailed study with regard to soil loss was carried out. A detailed examination of soil erosion patterns over four distinct time periods (2003–2007, 2007–2012, 2013–2017, and 2018–2022) indicated variability in soil loss severity across sub-basins. The years 2008–2012, characterized by lower precipitation, witnessed reduced soil erosion. Sub-basins 6, 16, 17, and 19 consistently faced substantial soil loss, while minimal erosion was observed in sub-basins 14 and 18. The absence of a definitive soil loss pattern highlights the region’s susceptibility to climatic variables. Reduced soil erosion from 2018 to 2022 is attributed to diminished precipitation and subsequent lower discharge levels. The study emphasizes the intricate relationship between climatic factors and soil erosion dynamics.