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Soil Water Erosion Modeling in Tunisia Using RUSLE and GIS Integrated Approaches and Geospatial Data

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Moncef Serbaji

    (Laboratory for Environmental Engineering and Eco-Technology, National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia)

  • Moncef Bouaziz

    (Institute for Mine Surveying and Geodesy, Freiberg, University of Technology, 09599 Freiberg, Germany)

  • Okba Weslati

    (Laboratory of Water, Energy & Environment, National Engineering School of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax, Sfax 3038, Tunisia)

Abstract

Soil erosion is an important environmental problem that can have various negative consequences, such as land degradation, which affects sustainable development and agricultural production, especially in developing countries like Tunisia. Moreover, soil erosion is a major problem around the world because of its effects on soil fertility by nutriment loss and siltation in water bodies. Apart from this, soil erosion by water is the most serious type of land loss in several regions both locally and globally. This study evaluated regional soil erosion risk through the derivation of appropriate factors, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), which was applied to establish a soil erosion risk map of the whole Tunisian territory and to identify the vulnerable areas of the country. The RUSLE model considers all the factors playing a major role in erosion processes, namely the erodibility of soils, topography, land use, rainfall erosivity, and anti-erosion farming practices. The equation is, thus, implemented under the Geographic Information System (GIS) “Arc GIS Desktop”. The results indicated that Tunisia has a serious risk of soil water erosion, showing that 6.43% of the total area of the country is affected by a very high soil loss rate, estimated at more than 30 t/ha/year, and 4.20% is affected by high mean annual soil losses, ranging from 20 to 30 t/ha/year. The most eroded areas were identified in the southwestern, central, and western parts of the country. The spatial erosion map can be used as a decision support document to guide decision-makers towards better land management and provide the opportunity to develop management strategies for soil erosion prevention and control on the global scale of Tunisia.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Moncef Serbaji & Moncef Bouaziz & Okba Weslati, 2023. "Soil Water Erosion Modeling in Tunisia Using RUSLE and GIS Integrated Approaches and Geospatial Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:3:p:548-:d:1078944
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tiruneh, Gizachew & Ayalew, Mersha, 2015. "Soil Loss Estimation Using Geographic Information System In Enfraz Watershed For Soil Conservation Planning In Highlands Of Ethiopia," International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation and Technology (IJARIT), IJARIT Research Foundation, vol. 5(2), December.
    2. Rudi Hessel & Guido Wyseure & Ioanna S. Panagea & Abdallah Alaoui & Mark S. Reed & Hedwig van Delden & Melanie Muro & Jane Mills & Oene Oenema & Francisco Areal & Erik van den Elsen & Simone Verzandvo, 2022. "Soil-Improving Cropping Systems for Sustainable and Profitable Farming in Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Zhanna A. Buryak & Anastasiya G. Narozhnyaya & Artyom V. Gusarov & Achim A. Beylich, 2022. "Solutions for the Spatial Organization of Cropland with Increased Erosion Risk at the Regional Level: A Case Study of Belgorod Oblast, European Russia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Alelgn Ewunetu & Belay Simane & Ermias Teferi & Benjamin F. Zaitchik, 2021. "Land Cover Change in the Blue Nile River Headwaters: Farmers’ Perceptions, Pressures, and Satellite-Based Mapping," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-25, January.
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