IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v12y2022i1p107-d1018830.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluation of the Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Erosion in the Tropical Maha Oya River Basin, Sri Lanka

Author

Listed:
  • Chathura Palliyaguru

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka)

  • Vindhya Basnayake

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka)

  • Randika K. Makumbura

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka)

  • Miyuru B. Gunathilake

    (Hydrology and Aquatic Environment, Division of Environment and Natural Resources, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy and Research, 1433 Ås, Norway
    Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, 90014 Oulu, Finland)

  • Nitin Muttil

    (Institute for Sustainable Industries & Livable Cities, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia
    College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, P.O. Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC 8001, Australia)

  • Eranga M. Wimalasiri

    (Department of Export Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka)

  • Upaka Rathnayake

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka)

Abstract

Soil degradation is a serious environmental issue in many regions of the world, and Sri Lanka is not an exception. Maha Oya River Basin (MORB) is one of the major river basins in tropical Sri Lanka, which suffers from regular soil erosion and degradation. The current study was designed to estimate the soil erosion associated with land use changes of the MORB. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was used in calculating the annual soil erosion rates, while the Geographic Information System (GIS) was used in mapping the spatial variations of the soil erosion hazard over a 30-year period. Thereafter, soil erosion hotspots in the MORB were also identified. The results of this study revealed that the mean average soil loss from the MORB has substantially increased from 2.81 t ha −1 yr −1 in 1989 to 3.21 t ha −1 yr −1 in 2021, which is an increment of about 14.23%. An extremely critical soil erosion-prone locations (average annual soil loss > 60 t ha −1 yr −1 ) map of the MORB was developed for the year 2021. The severity classes revealed that approximately 4.61% and 6.11% of the study area were in high to extremely high erosion hazard classes in 1989 and 2021, respectively. Based on the results, it was found that the extreme soil erosion occurs when forests and vegetation land are converted into agricultural and bare land/farmland. The spatial analysis further reveals that erosion-prone soil types, steep slope areas, and reduced forest/vegetation cover in hilly mountain areas contributed to the high soil erosion risk (16.56 to 91.01 t ha −1 yr −1 ) of the MORB. These high soil erosional areas should be prioritized according to the severity classes, and appropriate land use/land cover (LU/LC) management and water conservation practices should be implemented as recommended by this study to restore degraded lands.

Suggested Citation

  • Chathura Palliyaguru & Vindhya Basnayake & Randika K. Makumbura & Miyuru B. Gunathilake & Nitin Muttil & Eranga M. Wimalasiri & Upaka Rathnayake, 2022. "Evaluation of the Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Erosion in the Tropical Maha Oya River Basin, Sri Lanka," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-33, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2022:i:1:p:107-:d:1018830
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/107/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/107/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew K. Marondedze & Brigitta Schütt, 2020. "Assessment of Soil Erosion Using the RUSLE Model for the Epworth District of the Harare Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Ahsan Raza & Hella Ahrends & Muhammad Habib-Ur-Rahman & Thomas Gaiser, 2021. "Modeling Approaches to Assess Soil Erosion by Water at the Field Scale with Special Emphasis on Heterogeneity of Soils and Crops," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-35, April.
    3. Ankur Srivastava & Nikul Kumari & Minotshing Maza, 2020. "Hydrological Response to Agricultural Land Use Heterogeneity Using Variable Infiltration Capacity Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 34(12), pages 3779-3794, September.
    4. 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.
    5. Nareth Nut & Machito Mihara & Jaehak Jeong & Bunthan Ngo & Gilbert Sigua & P.V. Vara Prasad & Manny R. Reyes, 2021. "Land Use and Land Cover Changes and Its Impact on Soil Erosion in Stung Sangkae Catchment of Cambodia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Kabir Uddin & Mir Abdul Matin & Sajana Maharjan, 2018. "Assessment of Land Cover Change and Its Impact on Changes in Soil Erosion Risk in Nepal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-20, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Nareth Nut & Machito Mihara & Jaehak Jeong & Bunthan Ngo & Gilbert Sigua & P.V. Vara Prasad & Manny R. Reyes, 2021. "Land Use and Land Cover Changes and Its Impact on Soil Erosion in Stung Sangkae Catchment of Cambodia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-25, August.
    2. Dawit Samuel Teshome & Mitiku Badasa Moisa & Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda & Songcai You, 2022. "Effect of Land Use-Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield in Muger Sub-Basin, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Gezahegn Weldu Woldemariam & Arus Edo Harka, 2020. "Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-25, April.
    4. Bin Huang & Zaijian Yuan & Mingguo Zheng & Yishan Liao & Kim Loi Nguyen & Thi Hong Nguyen & Samran Sombatpanit & Dingqiang Li, 2022. "Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Tropical and Subtropical Asia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Taingaun Sourn & Sophak Pok & Phanith Chou & Nareth Nut & Dyna Theng & Phanna Rath & Manuel R. Reyes & P.V. Vara Prasad, 2021. "Evaluation of Land Use and Land Cover Change and Its Drivers in Battambang Province, Cambodia from 1998 to 2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Tesfa Gebrie Andualem & Guna A. Hewa & Baden R. Myers & Stefan Peters & John Boland, 2023. "Erosion and Sediment Transport Modeling: A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, July.
    7. Prakash Singh Thapa & Basanta Raj Adhikari & Rajib Shaw & Diwakar Bhattarai & Seiji Yanai, 2023. "Geomorphological analysis and early warning systems for landslide risk mitigation in Nepalese mid-hills," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(2), pages 1793-1812, June.
    8. Nikafkar, Nasrin & Alroaia, Younos Vakil & Heydariyeh, Seyyed Abdollah & Schleiss, Anton J., 2023. "Economic and commercial analysis of reusing dam reservoir sediments," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PB).
    9. Nugun P. Jellason & Elizabeth J. Z. Robinson & Abbie S. A. Chapman & Dora Neina & Adam J. M. Devenish & June Y. T. Po & Barbara Adolph, 2021. "A Systematic Review of Drivers and Constraints on Agricultural Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    10. Susanta Das & Proloy Deb & Pradip Kumar Bora & Prafull Katre, 2020. "Comparison of RUSLE and MMF Soil Loss Models and Evaluation of Catchment Scale Best Management Practices for a Mountainous Watershed in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, December.
    11. Cláudia M. Viana & Jorge Rocha, 2020. "Evaluating Dominant Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Predicting Future Scenario in a Rural Region Using a Memoryless Stochastic Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-28, May.
    12. Yogendra Yadav & Yogendra Yadav & Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri & Santosh Raymajhi & Krishna RajTiwari & Bishal Kumar Sitaula, 2019. "Dynamics of Land use Land Cover Change and Mapping of Tree Outside Forest (TOF) in Terai, Nepal," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 19(1), pages 04-09, April.
    13. Hadi Eskandari Damaneh & Hassan Khosravi & Khalil Habashi & Hamed Eskandari Damaneh & John P. Tiefenbacher, 2022. "The impact of land use and land cover changes on soil erosion in western Iran," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 110(3), pages 2185-2205, February.
    14. Zhuangzhuang Zhang & Ruihong Yu, 2023. "Assessment of Soil Erosion from an Ungauged Small Watershed and Its Effect on Lake Ulansuhai, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    15. Chunying Ning & Rajan Subedi & Lu Hao, 2023. "Land Use/Cover Change, Fragmentation, and Driving Factors in Nepal in the Last 25 Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.
    16. Sanja Manojlović & Mikica Sibinović & Tanja Srejić & Abosa Hadud & Ibrahim Sabri, 2021. "Agriculture Land Use Change and Demographic Change in Response to Decline Suspended Sediment in Južna Morava River Basin (Serbia)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.
    17. Markos Mathewos & Semaria Moga Lencha & Misgena Tsegaye, 2022. "Land Use and Land Cover Change Assessment and Future Predictions in the Matenchose Watershed, Rift Valley Basin, Using CA-Markov Simulation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-28, September.
    18. Bhaskar Shrestha & Qinghua Ye & Nitesh Khadka, 2019. "Assessment of Ecosystem Services Value Based on Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Transboundary Karnali River Basin, Central Himalayas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-19, June.
    19. Mitiku Badasa Moisa & Indale Niguse Dejene & Obsu Hirko & Dessalegn Obsi Gemeda, 2022. "Impact of deforestation on soil erosion in the highland areas of western Ethiopia using geospatial techniques: a case study of the Upper Anger watershed," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 6(2), pages 489-514, June.
    20. Derick Ansyijar Kuule & Benard Ssentongo & Paul John Magaya & Gordon Yofesi Mwesigwa & Isaac Tom Okurut & Kenneth Nyombi & Anthony Egeru & John Robert Stephen Tabuti, 2022. "Land Use and Land Cover Change Dynamics and Perceived Drivers in Rangeland Areas in Central Uganda," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, August.

    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:jlands:v:12:y:2022:i:1:p:107-:d:1018830. 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.