Application of the Adapted Approach for Crop Management Factor to Assess Soil Erosion Risk in an Agricultural Area of Rwanda

Abstract

Land use and land cover (LULC) management influences the severity of soil erosion risk. However, crop management (C) is one factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model that should be taken into account in its determination, as it influences soil loss rate estimations. Thus, the present study applied an adapted C-factor estimation approach (CvkA) modified from the former approach (Cvk) to assess the impact of LULC dynamics on soil erosion risk in an agricultural area of Rwanda taking the western province as a case study. The results disclosed that the formerly used Cvk was not suitable, as it tended to overestimate C-factor values compared with the values obtained from t CvkA. An approximated mean soil loss of 15.1 t ha−1 yr−1, 47.4 t ha−1 yr−1, 16.3 t ha−1 yr−1, 66.8 t ha−1 yr−1 and 15.3 t ha−1 yr−1 in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, respectively, was found. The results also indicated that there was a small increase in mean annual soil loss from 15.1 t ha−1 yr−1 in 2000 to 15.3 t ha−1 yr−1 in 2018 (1.3%). Moreover, the soil erosion risk categories indicated that about 57.5%, 21.8%, 64.9%, 15.5% and 73.8% had a sustainable soil erosion rate tolerance (≤10 t ha−1 yr−1), while about 42.5%, 78.2%, 35.1%, 84.5% and 16.8% had an unsustainable mean soil erosion rate (>10 t ha−1 yr−1) in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2018, respectively. A major portion of the area fell under the high and very high probability zones, whereas only a small portion fell under the very low, low, moderate and extremely high probability zones. Therefore, the CvkA approach presents the most suitable alternative to estimate soil loss in the western province of Rwanda with reasonable soil loss prediction results. The study area needs urgent intervention for soil conservation planning, taking into account the implementation of effective conservation practices such as terracing for soil erosion control.