ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION VULNERABILITY AT THE RIVER LAMURDE CATCHMENT USING REVISED UNIVERSAL SOIL LOSS EQUATION AND GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES

This study evaluated the susceptibility of the River Lamurde catchment to soil erosion by applying the Revise Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) alongside geospatial techniques, in response to increased human activities and variable rainfall patterns. Factors like soil erodibility, vegetation cover, slope length, support practices, and rain erosivity were quantified and integrated into the RUSLE model using ArcGIS. IBM SPSS was used for change detection statistics to analyze land use/land cover changes over time. The findings of the study indicate that factors such as soil erodibility index, vegetation, bare surface, and water bodies significantly influence the occurrence of soil erosion in the area. The study reveals that 17.4% of the land in the area exhibit low susceptibility to soil erosion, while 53.9 % have moderate vulnerability and 28.7% have high vulnerability. To address the issue of erosion, the study suggests employing erosion prevention techniques and sustainable land management methods, incorporating erosion prevention and mitigation measures into planning and development, establishing a monitoring program, raising public awareness, supporting research initiatives, and integrating erosion control and land management strategies into local policies.