Modeling of Soil Sensitivity to Erosion Using the Analytic Hierarchical Process: A Study of Menoua Mountain Watershed, West-Cameroon

Abstract

The Bamboutos Mountains experience a persistent deterioration of their natural environment, which is evidenced by the ongoing loss of vegetation and growing instability of the ecosystem. As such, several soil restoration projects have been put in place to restore this mountain ecosystem and maintain its agricultural potential. This article goes in-line with this premise by studying the sensitivity of soils to water erosion in a watershed where agriculture is the main form of land use. The objective of the study is to examine various aspects of the study area, including its topography, lithology, hydrology, climate, and land use, in order to adopt a multi-criteria approach that involves intersecting these factors related to soil vulnerability to erosion using GIS. Results showed that the Menoua watershed is characterized by very steep slope classes (60% of the area occupied by slopes greater than 50°), with agricultural land alone covering approximately 49% of the watershed or almost half of the available space. The map of soil sensitivity to erosion shows that areas most sensitive to erosion (42%) generally coincide with the sloping land cultivated on lateritic soils in the northern part of the basin. Very strong and strong sensitivity to erosion represents 8.82%. The basin is therefore a geographical area at risk of erosion. Adopting no-tillage farming technique and the agroforestry can reduce sensitivity to erosion and ensure sustainable management of mountains.