Exploring the RUSLE-based structural sediment connectivity approach for agricultural erosion management

Models play a crucial role in guiding agricultural erosion management, though their incorporation of sediment connectivity and management strategies varies. This study evaluated the RUSLE/IC/SDR model’s potential for simulating agricultural erosion management at both the field scale and across two catchments. We tested the model’s ability to simulate erosion management measures at a high spatial resolution (2 m × 2 m) across diverse topographies, assessed whether incorporating sediment connectivity improves RUSLE-based erosion management planning within catchments, and explored its capacity to tailor measures based on local connectivity characteristics. Our findings showed significant variability in sediment sources and connectivity. The simulation of no-till and buffer strip measures effectively demonstrated their varying effectiveness across fields and catchments. At the catchment scale, erosion management planning that incorporates sediment connectivity through the RUSLE/IC/SDR approach did not contribute to significant additional sediment delivery reduction compared to using RUSLE alone. However, at the field scale, RUSLE/IC/SDR offered improved opportunities for tailoring erosion management measures to local sediment connectivity characteristics. These simulations highlight both the potential and limitations of RUSLE/IC/SDR, advancing our understanding of its application for erosion management. In conclusion, while RUSLE/IC/SDR represents a valuable extension of RUSLE, further research is needed to fully realize its practical applications. Nonetheless, it shows promise for high-resolution simulation of sediment connectivity and erosion management at the field scale, across large catchments and regions.