Soil Erosion Assessment of a Hilly Terrain by RUSLE Model - A Case Study of Chittagong Hill Tracts

Authors : Easmat Ara AFRİN, M M Abdullah Al MAMUN, Mohammed Mozaffar HOSSAİN, Li ZHANG

Pages : 151-165

Doi:10.48123/rsgis.1197801

View : 66 | Download : 50

Publication Date : 2023-09-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Among many environmental problems, soil erosion poses a serious threat to the region known as Chittagong Hill Tracts insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CHTs); in Bangladesh, comprising three districts, namely Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari. The annual soil erosion rate for this hilly terrain was calculated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RUSLE); model integrated with Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GIS);. The ranges of the estimated erosivity of rainfall, erodibility of the soil, slope length and slope steepness, crop management factor and conservation practices are 806.2 to 1513.2 MJ.mm.ha-1.h-1.yr-1 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or an average of 1121.5 MJ.mm.ha-1.h-1.yr-1);, 0 to 0.02 t.h.MJ-1 mm-1, 0 to 78.8 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or average 0.41);, 0 to 0.63 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or average 0.57); and 0.55 to 1 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(or average 0.73);, respectively. As per the findings, the study area is expected to lose 182621.5 tons of soil annually, with the estimated annual soil erosion rate of 15.18 t.ha-1.yr-1 also predicted. The weighted overlay index approach was used to produce the probability zone map, which shows that the majority of the research region falls within the slight probability zone and that only a small percentage falls inside the high and very high probability zones. This study proves RS-GIS is useful for predicting erosion and can be used in soil conservation programs.
Keywords : Toprak erozyonu, USLE, RUSLE, Uzaktan algılama ve CBS