Soil erosion risk and sediment yield assessment with Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and GIS: The case of Nesha watershed, Southwestern Ethiopia

This research was administered to spatially predict the soil loss rate of the kaffa zone using a model estimate and GIS. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) adapted to Ethiopian conditions was accustomed estimate potential soil losses by utilizing information on rainfall erosivity (R) using interpolation of rainfall data, soil erodibility (K) using DSMW soil map, vegetation cover (C) using spot6 images, topography (LS) using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and conservation practices (P) using DEM and satellite images. supported the analysis, the mean and total annual soil loss potential of the study area was 30 tons ha-1 year-1 and 36,264.5tons ha-1 year-1, respectively. The results also showed that about 2.89, 8.02, 15.31 and 73.78% of the study area were classified as slight, moderate, high, and very high with values ranging from 0 to 15,15 to50,50 to 200, and >200 tons ha-1 year-1, respectively. The study demonstrates that the RUSLE using GIS and RS provides a great advantage to spatially analyzing multi-layer of knowledge. The expected amount of soil loss and its spatial distribution could facilitate sustainable land use and management.