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Soil loss estimation and prioritization of sub-watersheds of Kali River basin, Karnataka, India, using RUSLE and GIS

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Abstract

Most of the mountainous regions in tropical humid climatic zone experience severe soil loss due to natural factors. In the absence of measured data, modeling techniques play a crucial role for quantitative estimation of soil loss in such regions. The objective of this research work is to estimate soil loss and prioritize the sub-watersheds of Kali River basin using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Various thematic layers of RUSLE factors such as rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), topographic factor (LS), crop management factor (C), and support practice factor (P) have been prepared by using multiple spatial and non-spatial data sets. These layers are integrated in geographic information system (GIS) environment and estimated the soil loss. The results show that ∼42 % of the study area falls under low erosion risk and only 6.97 % area suffer from very high erosion risk. Based on the rate of soil loss, 165 sub-watersheds have been prioritized into four categories—very high, high, moderate, and low erosion risk. Anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, construction of dams, and rapid urbanization are the main reasons for high rate of soil loss in the study area. The soil erosion rate and prioritization maps help in implementation of a proper watershed management plan for the river basin.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to all the anonymous reviewers for their valuable suggestions which helped us to improve the quality of the manuscript. We are also thankful to Mr. Pattabhirama Somayaji, Professor of English, University College, Mangaluru, for kindly editing the manuscript and rectifying the serious problems in grammar, sentences, and paragraphs. The authors are also thankful to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi for the financial assistance in the form of research project (MoES/11-MRDF/1/35/P/08-PC-III).

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  1. Department of Marine Geology, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Karnataka, 574 199, India

    Vipin Joseph Markose & K. S. Jayappa

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Markose, V.J., Jayappa, K.S. Soil loss estimation and prioritization of sub-watersheds of Kali River basin, Karnataka, India, using RUSLE and GIS. Environ Monit Assess 188, 225 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5218-2

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