Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Chalise, Devraj; Kumar, Lalit

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231692

Cited by 30 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…For this study, Eq. ( 2) developed by Harper (1987) and adopted by Chalise and Kumar (2020) for their study in the Nepal Himalayas was applied. For this objective, a 30-year (1987-2017) monthly rainfall data were used to calculate the R factor:…”

Section: Rainfall Erosivity (R) Factormentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed

et al. 2021

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Purpose Understanding the spatial dynamics of soil loss (SL) and sediment yield (SY) from ungauged watersheds would have a profound importance to devise informed land resource and flood management strategies. Such information particularly substantial for rivers like Koshi, that typically causing severe land degradation and frequent devastating flood risks to large number of inhabitants in the basin. This study aimed to estimate the spatial heterogeneity of mean annual SL and SY in Triyuga river watershed (TRW) and delivers into Sapta-Koshi. Materials and methodsThe Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Slope-based Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) models along with Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were applied. Results and discussionThe mean SL and SY were found to be 31 and 3.04 t/ha/year, respectively. Accordingly, an estimated 2.2 × 10 5 tons of sediment was delivered into the Sapta-Koshi river annually. In this watershed, nearly 62% of the area is under the category of high to very severe soil loss rate (SLR), which together accounted for 96% of the total SL in the TRW. The critical SLR was mostly distributed along the northern escarpment of the study area. Most of the sloping areas in the northwestern and some patches of the northeastern tip regions that accompany with slope class > 26.8% are particularly vulnerable to severe SL and SY in the TRW. In this regard, the RUSLE LS factor has played the significant (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) impact over other RUSLE factors. Conclusion High elevation and steep slope class in the northwestern and northeastern parts of the watershed are the major SL and SY hotspot sites that require special attention and priority for conservation interventions in the TRW.

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Section: Rainfall Erosivity (R) Factormentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed

et al. 2021

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“…In the dry season, the plant cover becomes sparse and makes the surface susceptible to raindrop impacts during the beginning of the wet season [2,3] which gives rise to high soil erosion. The continuous fragmentation of soil aggregates and the loss of topsoil due to severe rainfall erosivity disturbs the agricultural production systems [3,4]. In many parts of the world in general and in Ethiopia in particular, soil erosion affects the stability of ecosystems [5,6] and frequently causing irreversible land degradation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil erosion and sediment yield assessment using RUSLE and GIS-based approach in Anjeb watershed, Northwest Ethiopia

Tsegaye

Bharti

2021

SN Appl. Sci.

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Soil erosion is a serious and continuous environmental problem in Ethiopia. Lack of land use planning, environmental protection, over-cultivation, and overgrazing are prominent causes of erosion and sedimentation. This study is conducted in Anjeb watershed located in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. In this study, the quantity and distribution of soil erosion, sediment delivery ratio (SDR), and sediment yield of the watershed were assessed by employing remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS), and revised universal soil loss equation analysis capabilities. Important data sets of topography, soil, conservations practices, cover management, and rainfall factors were processed and superimposed in GIS analysis, and soil loss rate, SDR, and sediment yield of the watershed were derived. Based on the result found, the watershed was categorized into six classes of erosion: slight (0–5), moderate (5–10), high (10–15), very high (15–30), severe (30–50), and very severe (> 50) t ha−1 yr−1. The estimated average annual soil loss was 17.3 t ha−1 yr−1. The soil loss rate is higher in the steeper and topographically dissected part of the watershed. The average sediment delivery capacity was about 0.122. The result showed that the average sediment yield in the watershed was grouped into classes of low (< 2.5), moderate (2.5–7.5), high (7.5–12.5), very high (12.5–22.5), severe (22.5–40), and very severe (> 40) t ha−1 yr−1. It is found that from a total of 20,125.5 t yr−1 eroded soil over the whole watershed 2254.5 t yr−1 of sediment has been brought and deposited to the channels. Sediment accumulation from the watershed threatens the storage capacity and life span of Anjeb reservoir which is the source of irrigation water downstream. The study provides an insight to planners and resource managers to design and implement practices of watershed management to reduce erosion and enhance land productivity and to minimize the reservoir sediment accumulation.

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“…Land use classification reflects the forms and functions of land use, and the modes and impacts of land use and transformation by human beings. It also facilitates the rationalization of the organization of land use and distribution of production according to local conditions [ 56 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-temporal distribution and classification of utilization of urban bare lots in low-slope hilly regions

Cao

Shi

2021

PLoS ONE

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Urban bare lots are persistent phenomena in urban landscapes in the course of urbanization. In the present study, we examined the spatio-temporal distribution of urban bare lots in low-slope hilly areas, and to assess the major pathways by which they are generated and later re-transformed for exploitation. We extracted land use and land cover (LULC) change information and analyzed spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of urban bare lots using Landsat TM/OLI series remote sensing images. Subsequently, we proposed an index system for their evaluation and classification, and identified five types of urban bare lots. Urban bare lot quantity and distribution are closely correlated with human activity intensity. Stakeholders should consider the multiple effects of location, topography, landscape index, transportation, service facilities, and urban planning in urban bare lot classification activities for renovation and re-transformation.

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Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Cited by 30 publications

References 45 publications

Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed

Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed

Soil erosion and sediment yield assessment using RUSLE and GIS-based approach in Anjeb watershed, Northwest Ethiopia

Spatio-temporal distribution and classification of utilization of urban bare lots in low-slope hilly regions

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