Identification of critical prone areas by using USLE: Case study -Amaravati - Andhra Pradesh - Krishna River Delta

Abstract. The conservation of land and water, which are crucial natural resources, is essential for maintaining environmental and ecological health. This research aims to assist policymakers in resource conservation by identifying key prone areas to erosion of soil in Andhra Pradesh's Amaravati region, India through the application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Soil erosion in this region significantly impacts agricultural productivity, reservoir capacity, and water quality. This study's main goal is to evaluate and locate areas highly susceptible to soil erosion to facilitate targeted conservation efforts. Using ArcGIS software, geomorphological parameters of the watershed were analyzed, and the USLE model was implemented over the 193.41 km² Amaravati basin, divided into 185 micro-watersheds for detailed assessment. Remote sensing provided critical spatial and temporal data for annual soil loss evaluation. GIS technology helped produce maps from Digital Elevation Models (DEM), soil maps, and satellite imagery. The basin was categorized into six soil loss classes from 0 to 80 tons per hectare annually. The results indicate that 13.93% of the area experiences high erosion (>15-20 tons/hectare/year), 18.70% faces moderate erosion (5-15 tons/hectare/year), and 67.30% has low to no erosion (0-5 tons/hectare/year). The regions with severe erosion are mostly hilly, highlighting the urgent need for soil conservation measures.