Estimation of Soil loss by USLE Model using GIS and Remote Sensing techniques: A case study of Muhuri River Basin, Tripura, India

Abstract

Soil erosion is a most severe environmental problem in humid sub-tropical hilly stateTripura. The present study is carried out on Muhuri river basin of Tripura state, Northeast India having an area of 614.54 Sq.km. In this paper, Universal Soil Loss Equation(USLE) model, with Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS)have been used to quantify the soil loss in the Muhuri river basin. Five essentialparameters such as Runoff-rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility Factor (K), slopelength and steepness (LS), cropping management factor (C), and support practice factor(P) have been used to estimate soil loss amount in the study area. All of these layershave been prepared in GIS and RS platform (Mainly Arc GIS 10.1) using various datasources and data preparation methods. In these study DEM and LISS satellite data havebeen used. The daily rainfall data (2001-2010) of 6 rain gauge stations have been usedto predict the R factor. Soil erodibility (K) factor in Basin area ranged from 0.15 to 0.36.The spatial distribution map of soil loss of Muhuri river basin has been generated andclassified into six categories according to intensity level of soil loss. The average annualpredicted soil loss ranges between 0 to and 650 t/ha/y. Low soil loss areas (70 t/ha/y) of soil erosion was foundalong the main course of Muhuri River.