Geospatial Assessment of Soil Loss Using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in the Dibrugarh District, Assam, India

Abstract

Soil erosion is a critical global challenge, leading to the loss of fertile topsoil and contributing to decreased agricultural productivity, increased sedimentation in waterways, and ecosystem disruption. This environmental problem is more vulnerable in developing countries because of farmers' failure to restore degraded soil and nutrients. The depletion of soil is driven by extensive farming practices, land degradation, and various human activities that impact the environment. It is an emerging threat to sustainable land management in Dibrugarh District, Assam. This study uses the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, integrated with remote sensing and GIS, to quantify soil erosion that incorporates annual average rainfall, soil properties, topographic characteristics, and LULC as inputs to detect the soil erosion-prone areas. This study divides the whole Dibrugarh district into five soil erosion severity classes, i.e., very slight, slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. The results demonstrate that 91.147% of the area experiences very slight erosion (<2 t ha-1 yr-1) while severe erosion affects 0.148% and very severe erosion impacts 0.044% of the area, requiring urgent conservation efforts. Effective soil management and targeted conservation strategies are essential to mitigate erosion and ensure the region's long-term land productivity and environmental health.