Impact of Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion Hazard in Northern Jordan Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Alkharabsheh, Mohammad; Alexandridis, Thomas; Bilas, George; Misopolinos, Nikolaos; Silleos, N.

doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2013.06.101

Cited by 113 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…On the contrary, small scattered areas of rangeland and bare land where transformed to forest, thus forest land increased from 13.38% of the catchment area in 1978 to 18.53% in 2010. Due to land cover/land use changes and climatic change in Jordan over the last several decades, soil erosion rates across Wadi Kufranja, and other parts of northern Jordan have been changed [66]. Accordingly, soil erosion becoming more serious on moderate and steep slopes transformed into cultivated or range land.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Estimation of Soil Erosion Risk Using RUSLE Approach, RS, and GIS Techniques: A Case Study of Kufranja Watershed, Northern Jordan

Farhan¹,

Zregat²,

Farhan³

2013

JWARP

111

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Wadi Kufranja catchment (126.3 km 2 ), northern Jordan, was selected to estimate annual soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), remote sensing (RS), and geographic information system (GIS). RUSLE factors (R, K, LS, C and P) were computed and presented by raster layers in a GIS environment, then multiplied together to predict soil erosion rates, and to generate soil erosion risk categories and soil erosion severity maps. The estimated potential average annual soil loss is 10 ton·ha . Apart from the gentle slopes of the alluvial fan (Krayma town and surroundings), the lower and the middle reaches of the watershed suffer from severe to extreme erosion risk. High terrain, slope steepness, removal of vegetation, and poor conservation practices are the most prominent causes of soil erosion. This investigation demonstrates that remote sensing (RS) and GIS technologies are effective tools in modeling erosion, thus enabling extraction of significant information for implementing soil conservation plans in the north Jordan highlands.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Estimation of Soil Erosion Risk Using RUSLE Approach, RS, and GIS Techniques: A Case Study of Kufranja Watershed, Northern Jordan

Farhan¹,

Zregat²,

Farhan³

2013

JWARP

111

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“…Today, soil erosion is the major cause of land degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa with serious impacts on agricultural productivity [5]. Numerous studies have highlighted that land conversion to agricultural land use stands as a catalyst for accelerated soil erosion rates [6][7][8][9][10]; and if these agriculture-related erosion rates remain far beyond the rates of soil production, the global society will eventually be compelled to either adopt agricultural methods that sustain the soil or face increasing competition over a shrinking agricultural land base [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extent of Cropland and Related Soil Erosion Risk in Rwanda

et al. 2016

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Land conversion to cropland is one of the major causes of severe soil erosion in Africa. This study assesses the current cropland extent and the related soil erosion risk in Rwanda, a country that experienced the most rapid population growth and cropland expansion in Africa over the last decade. The land cover land use (LCLU) map of Rwanda in 2015 was developed using Landsat-8 imagery. Based on the obtained LCLU map and the spatial datasets of precipitation, soil properties and elevation, the soil erosion rate of Rwanda was assessed at 30-m spatial resolution, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. According to the results, the mean soil erosion rate was 250 t¨ha´1¨a´1 over the entire country, with a total soil loss rate of approximately 595 million tons per year. The mean soil erosion rate over cropland, which occupied 56% of the national land area, was estimated at 421 t¨ha´1¨a´1 and was responsible for about 95% of the national soil loss. About 24% of the croplands in Rwanda had a soil erosion rate larger than 300 t¨ha´1¨a´1, indicating their unsuitability for cultivation. With a mean soil erosion rate of 1642 t¨ha´1¨a´1, these unsuitable croplands were responsible for 90% of the national soil loss. Most of the unsuitable croplands are distributed in the Congo Nile Ridge, Volcanic Range mountain areas in the west and the Buberuka highlands in the north, regions characterized by steep slopes (>30%) and strong rainfall. Soil conservation practices, such as the terracing cultivation method, are paramount to preserve the soil. According to our assessment, terracing alone could reduce the mean cropland soil erosion rate and the national soil loss by 79% and 75%, respectively. After terracing, only a small proportion of 7.6% of the current croplands would still be exposed to extreme soil erosion with a rate >300 t¨ha´1¨a´1. These irremediable cropland areas should be returned to mountain forest to foster environmental sustainability or further sustainable alternative erosion control techniques may be applied, such as applying Vetiver Eco-engineering Technology due to its economical soil erosion control and stabilization of steep slopes and the construction of erosion control dams to absorb and break down excess runoff from unusually intense storms in various parts of the watersheds.

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“…where L = slope length factor = slope length (m) m = slope length exponent L is the slope length factor which is the ratio of soil loss from the field slope length to soil loss from a 22.1 m length under the same conditions; S is the slope steepness factor which is the ratio of soil loss from the field slope gradient to soil loss from a 9% slope under the same conditions (Alkharabsheh et al 2013). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cover management factor (C factor) which is the ratio of soil loss from an area with specified cover and management to soil loss from an identical area in tilled continuous fallow (Alkharabsheh et al 2013) was calculated from Landsat satellite imagery which were downloaded from (http://www. earthexplorer\.usgs.gov) (table 1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The soil erodibility factor (K factor) which is the soil loss rate per erosion index unit for a specified soil as measured on a standard plot (22.1 m in length of uniform 9% slope in continuous clean tilled fallow) (Alkharabsheh et al 2013), was obtained from the Soil and Terrain Database for Latin America and the Caribbean (http://www.isric.org/projects/soter-latinamerica -and-caribbean -soterlac).…”

Section: Ndvi = (Nir -Red) / (Nir + Red)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Forest Cover Change and Soil Erosion in Toledo's Rio Grande Watershed

Chicas

Omine

2015

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

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ABSTRACT:Toledo, the southernmost district, is the hub of Belize's Mayan population, descendants of the ancient Mayan civilization. The Toledo District is primarily inhibited by Kekchi and Mopan Mayans whose subsistence needs are met by the Milpa slash-and-burn agricultural system and the extraction of forest resources. The poverty assessment in the country indicates that Toledo is the district with the highest percentage of household an individual indigence of 37.5 % and 49.7 % respectively. Forest cover change in the area can be attributed to rapid population growth among the Maya, together with increase in immigration from neighboring countries, logging, oil exploration and improvement and construction of roads. The forest cover change analysis show that from 2001 to 2011 there was a decrease of Lowland broad-leaved wet forest of 7.53 km sq, Shrubland of 4.66 km sq, and Wetland of 0.08 km sq. Forest cover change has resulted in soil erosion which is causing the deterioration of soils. The land cover types that are contributing the most to total erosion in the Rio Grande watershed are no-forest, lowland broad-leaved wet forest and submontane broad-leaved wet forest. In this study the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was employed in a GIS platform to quantify and assess forest cover change and soil erosion. Soil erosion vulnerability maps in Toledo's Rio Grande watershed were also created. This study provides scientifically sound information in order to understand and respond effectively to the impacts of soil erosion in the study site.

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Impact of Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion Hazard in Northern Jordan Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Cited by 113 publications

References 9 publications

Spatial Estimation of Soil Erosion Risk Using RUSLE Approach, RS, and GIS Techniques: A Case Study of Kufranja Watershed, Northern Jordan

Spatial Estimation of Soil Erosion Risk Using RUSLE Approach, RS, and GIS Techniques: A Case Study of Kufranja Watershed, Northern Jordan

Extent of Cropland and Related Soil Erosion Risk in Rwanda

Forest Cover Change and Soil Erosion in Toledo's Rio Grande Watershed

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