Modelling of Soil Loss through RUSLE2 for Soil Management in an Agricultural Field of Uccle, Belgium

Abstract

Revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE2) was applied to assess the soil loss in an agricultural field of Uccle, Belgium. Determination of soil loss required lots of information and data sets from various variables related to RUSLE2 in different formats scales. The effect of each factor affection soil loss and or erosion was estimated. Soil loss was influenced by soil properties (textural class), rainfall, topography (slope gradient), crop management and conservation practices (soil cover, type of tillage). The influence of erosion control practices (up and down slope ploughing, perfect contouring and buffer strip) on soil loss was also analysed. Results indicated that among three textural class of soils highest loss found in the silty soil followed by loamy sand and clayey soil had the least soil loss. This showed that the silty soil had the highest erodibility. It was evident from the modelling that as the slope steepness and slope length increased the soil loss increased, but when the slope steepness and slope length were reduced the soil loss decreased. Soil cover and tillage contributed greatly in soil erosion. The bare soil (silt) had the highest soil loss 22 Mg ha-1yr-1 but the dense grass cover had the lowest soil loss of 0.034 Mg ha-1yr-1. While the conventional tillage had higher soil loss 15 Mg ha-1yr-1 compared with the conservation tillage 11 Mg ha-1yr-1. In case of conservation practices, filter strips had the lowest soil loss from detachment of 4.4 Mg ha-1yr-1 but the most important is that despite the detachment very little soil leaves the field as indicated by the slope delivery 0.00092 Mg ha-1yr-1. Ploughing up and down the slope resulted in the highest soil (39 Mg ha-1yr-1) loss and should be discouraged. These results will be used for soil protection measures and land use planning in agriculture.