Use of the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) for soil and nutrient loss estimation in long-used rainfed agricultural lands, North Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to quantify agricultural land degradation in the Ruba Gered watershed, Ethiopia. The watershed was divided into 12 land mapping units (LMU) after superimposing maps of soil, slope, land use/cover, and elevation. Subsequently, cultivated land was delineated to assess degradation types and severity based on standard approaches. Sheet erosion was estimated using the revised universal soil loss equation. Composite soil samples were collected from each LMU to quantify key soil nutrients (OM, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) lost by sheet erosion. The annual average soil loss due to sheet erosion was estimated to be 17.4 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, with average annual nutrient losses estimated as 246.5 kg ha⁻¹ organic matter, 12.4 kg ha⁻¹ total nitrogen, 0.1 kg ha⁻¹ available phosphorus, and 1.6 kg ha⁻¹ available potassium. The study revealed that substantial quantities of soil and nutrients are lost every year in the study area due to severe sheet erosion. This amount of nutrient loss severely degrades soil and reduces soil fertility.

Keywords:

• Soil degradation
• sheet erosion
• soil fertility
• land mapping units
• North Ethiopia

Acknowledgement

First gratitude goes to Mekelle University for financial and material support for data collection and analysis. Special thanks go to the Tigray Agricultural Research Institute and Relief Society of Tigray for their cooperation in soil laboratory analysis, facilities, and technical support.