GIS and remote sensing-based assessment of soil erosion risk using RUSLE model in South-Kivu province, eastern, Democratic Republic of Congo

Soil erosion risk assessment in South-Kivu longs for the colonial epoch, while the province faces the problem of extreme degradation of land in the form of soil erosion. Thus, the study attempts to assess the soil erosion at the province level using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in conjunction with the Geographical Information System (GIS), and remote sensing data. The estimated total soil erosion was 2.084 million tons; with an annual average of 138.2 t ha(-1 )yr(-1). Moreover, the soil loss greater than 100 t ha(-1 )yr(-1) accounts for 45.2% of the total erosive land. The soil erosion worsening nearly the entire territories range between 87 t ha(-1 )yr(-1) in Shabunda to 248 t ha(-1 )yr(-1) in Uvira. Under high aggressiveness of rainfall with mean of 1857.19 mm/y, the highest rate found in Perennial crop, Trees, and Cropland in contrast to Shrub and closed Forest was mainly due to the mean slope of 22% found in the former Land cover categories compared to 17% of Shrubland and closed forest. The adoption of terracing could reduce by 76% the current rate of cropland i.e., from (162.12 t ha(-1 )yr(-1) to 38 t ha(-1 )yr(-1)). Therefore it is strongly recommended.

Automated summary

The province of South-Kivu is facing severe soil erosion issues, with a high estimated total soil erosion that could be reduced by 76% through adopting terracing measures.