Assessment of Soil Erosion by the RUSLE Model Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study of Jilin Province of China

Abstract

The accurate assessment and monitoring of soil erosion is of great significance for guiding food production and ensuring ecological security, and it is a current research hotspot. In this paper, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GISs) are combined with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE model) to carry out research on soil erosion monitoring and make a quantitative evaluation. According to five factors, including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, topography, vegetation cover, crop management and water and soil conservation measures, the distribution of the soil erosion rate in Jilin Province in 2019 was mapped, and the soil erosion rate was divided into 5 levels according to the degree of erosion, including very slight, slight, moderate, severe and extremely severe erosion. Based on the segmented S-slope factor model and the unique topographical features of the study area, the relationships among the soil erosion rate, erosion risk level, erosion area, erosion amount and slope angle (θ) were systematically analysed, and a slope angle of 15° was identified as the threshold for soil erosion on sloped farmland in Jilin Province. The total soil erosion in Jilin Province was 402.14×106 t in 2019, the average soil erosion rate was 21.6 t·ha-1·a-1, and the average soil loss thickness was 1.6 mm·a-1; these values were far greater than the soil erosion rate risk threshold of 10 t ·Ha-1·a-1. Thus, the province has a strong level of soil erosion. We conclude that soil degradation is accelerating, and food production and the ecological environment will face severe challenges. It is suggested that soil erosion control should be carried out according to different types and slopes of land, with an emphasis on the management of forestland and farmland because forestland and farmland are currently the first types of land to be managed in Jilin Province. This paper aims to explore a timely, fast, efficient and convenient soil erosion monitoring and evaluation method and provide effective monitoring tools for agricultural water and soil conservation, ecological safety management and stable food production in Jilin Province and similar black soil areas.

Advancing Soil Erosion Assessment: Application of Remote Sensing and Geospatial Techniques in Bulango Ulu Reservoir Basin

“…One of the most urgent environmental phenomena facing countries worldwide is soil erosion (1,2). Its negative impact on the environment and agricultural productivity makes it a challenge that must be addressed immediately (3).…”

“…Governments and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of this issue and taking steps to mitigate its consequences (5). Global soil erosion is estimated to be 75 billion tons per year, with the majority of cropland losing soil at a rate of 13 to 40 t ha -1 a -1 (2). Indonesia is one country with severe soil erosion, soil erosion is estimated to be 35-220 tons ha -1 per year, with an annual rate of growth of 7-14%, or 3-28 tons ha -1 .…”

“…Integrating data-driven approaches, like as the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) or the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), allows for a comprehensive assessment of soil erosion dynamics (10). Researchers have demonstrated the usefulness of these models in guiding the formulation of sustainable land management practices and soil erosion control measures (2,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). As soil erosion continues to be a global concern, the adoption of these mathematical tools holds significant promise for fostering resilient ecosystems and safeguarding precious soil resources.…”