Conditions for soil erosion by water in the upper Parsęta catchment

Abstract

The paper presents potential soil erosion risk of the upper Parsęta catchment (Drawskie Lake District, NW Poland). The model considers following conditions affecting the size of soil erosion: slope gradient, LS factor, lithology, land use and land cover. Thematic maps have been reclassified into a 4-degree division. Potential soil erosion risk map was prepared on the basis of thematic maps. Areas with small and moderate susceptibility to soil erosion occupy 71.5% of the catchment area. The 4th class of erosiveness is represented by the river valley slopes, steep slopes of kame and moraine hills, covering 28.5% of the upper Parsęta catchment.