Assessment of soil erosion dynamics and implications for sustainable land management: A case study using the RUSLE model

Abstract

The current research aimed to evaluate the severity and distribution of soil erosion in a Swat district, Pakistan, which is vital for sustainable land management and conservation efforts. This study focused on key parameters affecting soil erosion: the length factor (L), slope factor (S), crop management factor (C), rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), and support practice factor (P). Various parameters were quantified via RS data from Sentinel-2 imagery and processed with geographical information system (GIS) tools. The values of these parameters ranged from 0.00% to 38.86%, 0 to 1, 547 to 773 $\text{MJ}·\text{mm}·{\text{ha}}^{-1}·{\text{year}}^{-1}\text{,}$ 0.24–0.33 $\text{MJ}·\text{mm}·{\text{ha}}^{-1}·{\text{year}}^{-1}$ and 0.10–1.00, respectively. On the basis of these estimates, the total annual potential soil loss was approximately 173,816 $t·{\text{ha}}^{-1}·{\text{year}}^{-1}$ with extreme erosion rates exceeding 10,000 $t·{\text{ha}}^{-1}·{\text{year}}^{-1}$ in specific locations. The study categorized the soil erosion risk into five classes, ranging from very low to extreme, enabling the identification of areas requiring immediate attention and intervention. The findings of this study provide valuable insight for land management and conservation planning while also contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) by identifying areas where soil erosion poses a significant threat to food security. The current study underscores the importance of addressing soil erosion to promote sustainable land use and conservation strategies, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and environmental health.