Assessment and Classification of Soil Erosion Risks in the Amman-Zarqa Basin Based on RUSLE Equation and Geospatial Techniques

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1 Applied Geography and GIS Program, Department of Humanities, College of Arts & Sciences, Qatar University, Qatar

2 Dept. of Applied Geography, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Al-Bayt University

Abstract

This study is an attempt to assess and classify soil erosion risks in the Amman-Zarqa Basin and proposes solutions and recommendations to mitigate these risks due to the significance of the area. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) was selected for this study because the data needed is available which includes topographic & slope length factor, rainfall factor, land cover and crop management factor, soil conservation practices factor, and soil erodibility factor. In addition, RUSLE equation can be implemented within a GIS environment. This study created a geographic database for the region and generated digital maps for those areas most prone to risk of soil erosion which were classified into categories and degrees using geospatial techniques. The study revealed that an area of 95 km² in the study region is categorized as having destructive soil erosion and exposure. Another area of 350 km² is prone to highly hazardous erosion which commands immediate measures such as supporting vegetation cover, managing agricultural slopes, and establishing a soil erosion control monitoring system.

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