Spatial Analysis of Soil Erosion Loss Using Geographic Information System and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation Techniques Northeast of Ethiopia

Abstract The aim of this research is to estimate the soil erosion loss and map risk areas in the Northeast Ethiopia the so called Maybar Watershed. The Geographic Information System together with Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) mainly employed as tools. The most determinant spatial factors such as rainfall, soil and others were collected, prepared and analyzed in RUSLE simulation environment. Before running the model, each determinant factor was arranged to the raster format and analyzed in the ArcGIS software. The finding revealed that the soil loss ranges from zero in very gentle slope area to 245 t ha− 1 y− 1 in the steeper slope with a mean annual soil loss of 24.3 t ha− 1 y− 1. The mean annual loss exceeds the tolerable soil loss (2–18 t ha− 1 y − 1) for the Ethiopia condition. More than half of the area is lying under very low to moderate erosion risk area: whereas the remaining is classified under high, very high and very severe erosion hazards. Most of the soil erosion vulnerable areas are found in the upper steepest slope but the less vulnerable areas are found in the gentle areas. The result further presented that the major land uses contributing to soil erosion are agriculture followed by bare-land. Generally, high intensity rainfalls, high topographic factor and human interventions are also known as major cause for soil erosion. To conclude, such refined information on the temporal and spatial trend has paramount advantages in identifying and implementing appropriate soil and water conservation measures. Nevertheless, since the area is too vast to carry out the physical conservations at time prioritizing has to be given which area needs an immediate intervention.