Spatio-temporal Soil Erosion Estimation in Sangareddy District, Telangana Using Rusle Model

Abstract

Soil erosion poses a significant environmental challenge worldwide, causing the depletion of fertile topsoil, reduced crop productivity, and heightened sedimentation in water bodies. The extent of erosion depends on factors such as rainfall intensity, land slope, soil type, land use, and management practices. Accurate assessment of soil loss, considering spatial, temporal, and climate change factors, is vital for effective soil and water conservation planning. In this study, a spatial model for estimating soil loss was developed by integrating GIS with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and validation showed satisfactory results (R2=0.82). The spatial estimation revealed that most of the area experienced soil loss below 5 t ha-1 yr-1, with only a smaller portion showing soil loss exceeding 20 t ha-1 yr-1. To address this, in-situ soil conservation measures are recommended, such as using erosion-resistant crops (e.g., groundnut) in strip cropping, adopting crop rotations, mulching, and planting grasses for bund stabilization. Practices like deep ploughing, summer ploughing, and mixed cropping should also be adopted for sustainable watershed management. Construction of conservation structures like farm ponds and percolation tanks is highly recommended. The study also observed temporal variations in soil loss for Sangareddy district, with the highest soil loss of 134 t ha−1 yr−1 occurring in 2020, and the lowest of 71 t ha−1 yr−1 in 2018. These findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and adaptive conservation strategies to mitigate soil erosion and ensure sustainable land use practices in the region.