IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v13y2016i8p835-d76358.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

USLE-Based Assessment of Soil Erosion by Water in the Nyabarongo River Catchment, Rwanda

Author

Listed:
  • Fidele Karamage

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), P.O. 6392, Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Chi Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    School of Resources Environment Science and Engineering, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437000, China)

  • Alphonse Kayiranga

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), P.O. 6392, Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Hua Shao

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Xia Fang

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Felix Ndayisaba

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), P.O. 6392, Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Lamek Nahayo

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), P.O. 6392, Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Christophe Mupenzi

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), P.O. 6392, Kigali, Rwanda)

  • Guangjin Tian

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

Soil erosion has become a serious problem in recent decades due to unhalted trends of unsustainable land use practices. Assessment of soil erosion is a prominent tool in planning and conservation of soil and water resource ecosystems. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was applied to Nyabarongo River Catchment that drains about 8413.75 km 2 (33%) of the total Rwanda coverage and a small part of the Southern Uganda (about 64.50 km 2 ) using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing technologies. The estimated total annual actual soil loss was approximately estimated at 409 million tons with a mean erosion rate of 490 t·ha ?1 ·y ?1 (i.e., 32.67 mm·y ?1 ). The cropland that occupied 74.85% of the total catchment presented a mean erosion rate of 618 t·ha ?1 ·y ?1 (i.e., 41.20 mm·y ?1 ) and was responsible for 95.8% of total annual soil loss. Emergency soil erosion control is required with a priority accorded to cropland area of 173,244 ha, which is extremely exposed to actual soil erosion rate of 2222 t·ha ?1 ·y ?1 (i.e., 148.13 mm·y ?1 ) and contributed to 96.2% of the total extreme soil loss in the catchment. According to this study, terracing cultivation method could reduce the current erosion rate in cropland areas by about 78%. Therefore, the present study suggests the catchment management by constructing check dams, terracing, agroforestry and reforestation of highly exposed areas as suitable measures for erosion and water pollution control within the Nyabarongo River Catchment and in other regions facing the same problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Fidele Karamage & Chi Zhang & Alphonse Kayiranga & Hua Shao & Xia Fang & Felix Ndayisaba & Lamek Nahayo & Christophe Mupenzi & Guangjin Tian, 2016. "USLE-Based Assessment of Soil Erosion by Water in the Nyabarongo River Catchment, Rwanda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:8:p:835-:d:76358
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/8/835/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/8/835/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fidele Karamage & Chi Zhang & Felix Ndayisaba & Hua Shao & Alphonse Kayiranga & Xia Fang & Lamek Nahayo & Enan Muhire Nyesheja & Guangjin Tian, 2016. "Extent of Cropland and Related Soil Erosion Risk in Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Julio A. Cárcamo & Jeffrey Alwang & George W. Norton, 1994. "On‐site economic evaluation of soil conservation practices in Honduras," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 11(2-3), pages 257-269, December.
    3. J. Meigh & A. McKenzie & K. Sene, 1999. "A Grid-Based Approach to Water Scarcity Estimates for Eastern and Southern Africa," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 13(2), pages 85-115, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Erika María López-García & Edgardo Torres-Trejo & Lucia López-Reyes & Ángel David Flores-Domínguez & Ricardo Darío Peña-Moreno & Jesús Francisco López-Olguín, 2020. "Estimation of soil erosion using USLE and GIS in the locality of Tzicatlacoyan, Puebla, México," Soil and Water Research, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 15(1), pages 9-17.
    2. Chaodong Li & Zhanbin Li & Mingyi Yang & Bo Ma & Baiqun Wang, 2021. "Grid-Scale Impact of Climate Change and Human Influence on Soil Erosion within East African Highlands (Kagera Basin)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-17, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fidele Karamage & Chi Zhang & Felix Ndayisaba & Hua Shao & Alphonse Kayiranga & Xia Fang & Lamek Nahayo & Enan Muhire Nyesheja & Guangjin Tian, 2016. "Extent of Cropland and Related Soil Erosion Risk in Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Jean de Dieu Nambajimana & Xiubin He & Ji Zhou & Meta Francis Justine & Jinlin Li & Dil Khurram & Richard Mind’je & Gratien Nsabimana, 2019. "Land Use Change Impacts on Water Erosion in Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Sonika Redhu & Pragati Jain, 2024. "Unveiling the nexus between water scarcity and socioeconomic development in the water-scarce countries," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(8), pages 19557-19577, August.
    4. Robyn Horan & Pawan S. Wable & Veena Srinivasan & Helen E. Baron & Virginie J. D. Keller & Kaushal K. Garg & Nathan Rickards & Mike Simpson & Helen A. Houghton-Carr & H. Gwyn Rees, 2021. "Modelling Small-Scale Storage Interventions in Semi-Arid India at the Basin Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-28, May.
    5. F. Jorge Bornemann & David P. Rowell & Barbara Evans & Dan J. Lapworth & Kamazima Lwiza & David M.J. Macdonald & John H. Marsham & Kindie Tesfaye & Matthew J. Ascott & Celia Way, 2019. "Future changes and uncertainty in decision-relevant measures of East African climate," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 156(3), pages 365-384, October.
    6. Hatem Jemmali & Mohamed Salah Matoussi, 2012. "A Multidimensional Analysis of Water Poverty at A Local Scale- Application of Improved Water Poverty Index for Tunisia," Working Papers 730, Economic Research Forum, revised 2012.
    7. Mohamed Hamouda & Mohamed Nour El-Din & Fawzia Moursy, 2009. "Vulnerability Assessment of Water Resources Systems in the Eastern Nile Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(13), pages 2697-2725, October.
    8. Caroline Sullivan & Jeremy Meigh, 2007. "Integration of the biophysical and social sciences using an indicator approach: Addressing water problems at different scales," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(1), pages 111-128, January.
    9. Saroj Koirala & Yiping Fang & Nirmal Mani Dahal & Chenjia Zhang & Bikram Pandey & Sabita Shrestha, 2020. "Application of Water Poverty Index (WPI) in Spatial Analysis of Water Stress in Koshi River Basin, Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, January.
    10. Guokun Chen & Zengxiang Zhang & Qiankun Guo & Xiao Wang & Qingke Wen, 2019. "Quantitative Assessment of Soil Erosion Based on CSLE and the 2010 National Soil Erosion Survey at Regional Scale in Yunnan Province of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-23, June.
    11. Dai, Meng & Huang, Shengzhi & Huang, Qiang & Leng, Guoyong & Guo, Yi & Wang, Lu & Fang, Wei & Li, Pei & Zheng, Xudong, 2020. "Assessing agricultural drought risk and its dynamic evolution characteristics," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    12. Davy Vanham & Stefanie Millinger & Harald Pliessnig & Wolfgang Rauch, 2011. "Rasterised Water Demands: Methodology for Their Assessment and Possible Applications," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(13), pages 3301-3320, October.
    13. Geoffrey Gasore & Helene Ahlborg & Etienne Ntagwirumugara & Daniel Zimmerle, 2021. "Progress for On-Grid Renewable Energy Systems: Identification of Sustainability Factors for Small-Scale Hydropower in Rwanda," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, February.
    14. Shiferaw, Bekele & Holden, Stein, 1998. "A Farm Household Analysis of Land Use and Soil Conservation Decisions of Smallholder Farmers in the Ethiopian Highlands," 1998 Fourth AFMA Congress, January 26-30, 1998, Stellenbosch, South Africa 187624, African Farm Management Association (AFMA).
    15. Animesh Gain & Yoshihide Wada, 2014. "Assessment of Future Water Scarcity at Different Spatial and Temporal Scales of the Brahmaputra River Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(4), pages 999-1012, March.
    16. Gezahegn Weldu Woldemariam & Anteneh Derribew Iguala & Solomon Tekalign & Ramireddy Uttama Reddy, 2018. "Spatial Modeling of Soil Erosion Risk and Its Implication for Conservation Planning: the Case of the Gobele Watershed, East Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-25, February.
    17. Rebecka Törnqvist & Jerker Jarsjö, 2012. "Water Savings Through Improved Irrigation Techniques: Basin-Scale Quantification in Semi-Arid Environments," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(4), pages 949-962, March.
    18. Taingaun Sourn & Sophak Pok & Phanith Chou & Nareth Nut & Dyna Theng & P. V. Vara Prasad, 2022. "Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Soil Erosion Using Remote Sensing, GIS and RUSLE Model: A Case Study of Battambang Province, Cambodia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    19. Isha Goel & Seema Sharma & Smita Kashiramka, 2020. "The Water Poverty Index: An application in the Indian context," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(3), pages 195-218, August.
    20. Yves Hategekimana & Mona Allam & Qingyan Meng & Yueping Nie & Elhag Mohamed, 2020. "Quantification of Soil Losses along the Coastal Protected Areas in Kenya," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-16, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:8:p:835-:d:76358. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.