SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL EROSION RISK USING RUSLE, RS AND GIS TECHNIQUES

This investigation is intended to estimate the annual soil loss in Wadi Bin Hammad watershed, and to examine the spatial patterns of soil loss and intensity, as an essential procedure for proper planning of conservation measures. To achieve these objectives, the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model has been applied in a geographical information system framework. After computing the RUSLE parameters (R, K, LS, C and P) soil erosion risk and intensity maps were generated, then integrated with physical factors (terrain units, elevation, slope, and land uses/cover) to explore the influence of these factors on the spatial patterns of soil erosion loss. The estimated potential annual average soil loss is 40.4 ton ha-1year-1, and the potential erosion rates from calculated class ranges from 0.0 to 100 ton ha1year-1. Soil erosion risk assessment indicates that 14.63 % of the catchment is prone to high to extreme soil losses higher than 75 ton ha-1year-1. The lower and middle parts of the catchment suffer from high, severe, to extreme soil erosion. While 57.83 % of the basin still undergoes very low , low and moderate levels of soil loss of less than 75 ton ha-1year-1. The present results provide a vital database necessary to control soil erosion in order to ensure sustainable agriculture in the southern highlands region of Jordan.