Quantitative Mapping Using a GIS/RUSLE Approach of Water Erosion of Soils and the Resulting Carbon Losses: The Case of the Fatick Region (Senegal)
Abstract
Water erosion is a complex phenomenon linked to both natural and human-induced factors. It causes significant damage in terms of soil loss and loss of organic fertilizers. Therefore, in the Fatick region, to better understand this issue, this study aimed to map and quantify soil losses due to water erosion, as well as their effects on carbon content. In this respect, the empirical universal equations of USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) and RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) were used. The environmental factors involved in the erosion process (climate, topography, soil, land use) were integrated as an information layer within a Geographic Information System (GIS). The results obtained showed soil losses ranging from 0 to 236 t/ha/year. The categorization of the results revealed that the levels of soil loss, "no" and "very low" (i.e., < 5 t/ha/yr), were the most significant, encompassing 99% of the total area. Vegetated areas appear more resistant to water erosion. Carbon losses resulting from this erosion range from 0 to 0.19 t/ha/yr. This study thus highlighted the importance of the RUSLE model in assessing water erosion and its impacts. Mapping these different levels of soil loss could help to better target intervention areas for the effective conservation of these soils.
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References
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