Assessment of soil erosion in the Chambal River Basin, India using RUSLE model – implications for agricultural sustainability

Soil erosion is the most concerning issue for agricultural sustainability by decreasing the soil quality. The soil erosion within the Chambal River Basin was assessed using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), satellite-derived datasets such as CHIRPS for precipitation (R factor) and MODIS for vegetation cover (C factor). The study spans from 2001 to 2023, highlighting how changes of MODIS derived LULC in permanent wetlands, agriculture land, urban, vegetation, barren land, and water bodies which influences soil erosion. Results show that croplands consistently dominated over 97% of the study area, increasing from 1,25,613 hectares in 2001 to 1,44,774 hectares in 2023. The spatial variability in erosion, with approximately 50% of the area experiencing slight erosion (<10 t/ha/year) and 30% under moderate erosion (10-20 t/ha/year). Severe erosion (>40 t/ha/year) affects 5% of the basin, particularly in steep slope regions. From 2001 to 2023, mean annual soil loss decreased from 9.66 t/ha/yr to 8.98 t/ha/yr, suggesting minor improvements in land management practices. Rainfall erosivity increased from 351.76 mm in 2001 to 388.09 mm in 2023, correlating with intensified rainfall events due to climate variability. The study highlights the importance of integrating remote sensing and RUSLE for understanding erosion dynamics and promoting sustainable land management in the Chambal Basin.