Abstract
In the present study, Karso watershed of Hazaribagh, Jharkhand State, India was divided into 200 × 200 grid cells and average annual sediment yields were estimated for each grid cell of the watershed to identify the critical erosion prone areas of watershed for prioritization purpose. Average annual sediment yield data on grid basis was estimated using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). In general, a major limitation in the use of hydrological models has been their inability to handle the large amounts of input data that describe the heterogeneity of the natural system. Remote sensing (RS) technology provides the vital spatial and temporal information on some of these parameters. A recent and emerging technology represented by Geographic Information System (GIS) was used as the tool to generate, manipulate and spatially organize disparate data for sediment yield modeling. Thus, the Arc Info 7.2 GIS software and RS (ERDAS IMAGINE 8.4 image processing software) provided spatial input data to the erosion model, while the USLE was used to predict the spatial distribution of the sediment yield on grid basis. The deviation of estimated sediment yield from the observed values in the range of 1.37 to 13.85 percent indicates accurate estimation of sediment yield from the watershed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amore E, Modica C, Nearing MA, Santoro VC (2004) Scale effect in USLE and WEPP application for soil erosion computation from three Sicilian basins. J Hydrol 293(1–4):100–114
Baba SMJ, Yusof KW (2001) Modelling soil erosion in tropical environments using remote sensing and geographical informations systems, Hydrologic Sci J 46(1):191–198
Bali YP, Karale RL (1977) A sediment yield index for choosing priority basins. IAHS-AISH Publ 222, pp180
Bingner RL, Murphee CE, Mutchler CK (1989) Comparison of sediment yield models on various watershed in Mississippi. Trans ASAE 32(2):529–534
Chakraborti AK (1992) Watershed prioritization strategies. NNRMS Bulletin, ISRO, Banglore, India
Chowdary VM, Yatindranath Kar S, Adiga S (2004) Modelling of non-point source pollution in a watershed using remote sensing and GIS. Indian J Remote Sensing 32(1):59–73
Cohen J (1960) A coefficient of agreement of nominal scales. Educ Psychol Measurements 20:37–46
Dickinson A, Collins R (1998) Predicting erosion and sediment yield at the catchment scale. Soil erosion at multiple scales. CAB Int 317–342
ESRI (1994) Arc View GIS Environment System Research Institute, ESRI Inc, USA
Fistikoglu O, Harmancioglu NB (2002) Integration of GIS with USLE in assessment of soil erosion. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Water Resources Management 16:447–467
Foster GR, McCool DK, Renard KG, Moldenhauer WC (1991) Conversion of the universal soil loss equation to SI Metric Units. J Soil Water Conserv 36:355–359
Griffin ML, Beasley DB, Fletcher JJ, Foster GR (1988) Estimating soil loss on topographically non-uniform field and farm units. J Soil Water Conserv 43:326–331
Hardaha MK, Kale VS, Nema RK (1996) Erosive rain and erosion index for Indore. Indian J Soil Cons 24(3):193–196
Jain SK, Kumar S, Varghese J (2001) Estimation of soil erosion for a Himalayan watershed using GIS technique. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Water Resources Management 15:41–54
Jain MK, Kothyari UC (2000) Estimation of soil erosion and sediment yield using GIS. Hydrologic Sci J 45(5):771–786
Jose CS, Das DC (1982) Geomorphic prediction models for sediment production rate and intensive priorities of watersheds in Mayurakshi catchment. Proc of the international symposium on hydrological aspects of mountainous watershed held at School of Hydrology, University of Roorkee, No 4–6,1982 Vol I, pp 15–23
Julien PY, Frenette M (1987) Macroscale analysis of upland erosion. Hydrol Sci J 32(3):347–358
Julien PY, Gonzales del Tanago M (1991) Spatially varied soil erosion under different climates. Hydrol Sci J 36(6):511–524
Khan MA, Gupta VP, Moharanam PC (2001) Watershed prioritization using remote sensing and geographical information system: a case study from Guhiya. India J Arid Environ 49:465–475
Kothyari UC, Jain SK (1997) Sediment yield estimation using GIS. Hydrol Sci J 42(6):833–843
Manserud RA, Leemans R (1992) Comparing global vegetation maps with the kappa statistics. Ecological modeling 62:275–279
McCool DK, Foster GR, Mutchler CK, Meyer LD (1987) Revised slope steepness factor for the universal Soil Loss Equation. Trans of ASAE 30(5):1387–1396
Misra N, Satyanarayana T, Mukherjee RK (1984) Effect of topoelements on the sediemnt production rate from Sub-watershed in Upper Damodar Valley. J Agril Engg (ISAE), 21(3):65–70
Narayan DVV, Babu R (1983) Estimation of soil erosion in India. J Irrig Drain Engg 109(4):419–431
Onyando JO, Kisoyan P, Chemelil MC (2005) Estimation of potential soil erosion for river perkerra catchment in Kenya. Water Resources Management 19:133–143
Pandey A, Chowdary VM, Mal BC (2004) Morphological analysis and watershed management using GIS. Hydrol J (India) 27(3–4):71–84
Prasad KSS, Gopi S, Rao SR (1992) Demarcation of priority watersheds in Mahboob nagar district, AP using remote sensing techniques. In Remote sensing application and GIS, recent trends. Tata Mcgraw-Hill Publishing Co Ltd., New Delhi, pp 180–186
Rao YP (1981) Evaluation of cropping management factor in universal soil Loss equation under natural rainfall condition of kharagpur, India. proceedings of Southeast Asian regional symposium on problems of soil erosion and sedimentation. Asian Institute of Tedchnology, Bangkok, pp 241–254
Renschler C, Diekkruger B, Mannaerts C (1997) Regionalization in surface runoff and soil erosion risk evaluation, in Regionalization of Hydrology. IAHS Publishers, UK, 254, 233–241
Satpathi KK, Panda RK, Prasad RN (1999) Development of a rainfall erosion index model for barapani (Meghalaya). J Agril Engg 36(10):39–47
Saxena RK, Verma KS, Chary GR, Srivastava R, Barthwal (2000) IRS-1C data application in watershed characterization and management. Intl J Remote Sensing 21(17):3197–3208
Sharda D, Ravi Kumar MV, Venkatatatnam L, Rao M (1993) Watershed prioritization for soil conservation — A GIS approach. Geo Carto Internat 1:27–34
Sharma JC, Prasad J, Saha SK, Pande LM (2001) Watershed prioritization based on sediment yield index in eastern part of doon valley using RS and GIS. Indian J Soil Cons 29(1):7–13
Sidhu GS, Das TH, Singh RS, Sharma RK, Ravishankar T (1998) Remote sensing and GIS techniques for prioritization of watershed: A case study in upper Mackkund watershed, Andhra Pradesh. Indian J Soil Cons 2(3):71–75
Singh G, Babu R, Narain P, Bhusan LS, Abrol IP (1992) Soil erosion rates in India. J Soil and water Cons 47(1):97–99
USDA-SCS (1972) ‘Hydrology’ in SCS national engineering handbook, Washington, DC, US Department of Agriculture, Section 4
Wang G, Gertner G, Parysow P, Anderson A (2001) Spatial prediction and uncertinity assessment of topographic factor for revised universal soil loss equation using digital elevation model. ISPRS J Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing 56:65–80
Wischmeier WH, Smith DD (1958) Rainfall energy and its relationship to soil loss. Trans Am Geophys Union 39(2)
Wischmeier WH, Smith DD (1978) Predicting rainfall erosion losses. USDA Agricultural Research Services Handbook 537. USDA, Washington, DC, 57pp
Williams JR, Berndt HD (1972) Sediment yield computed with universal equation. J Hydrol Div, ASCE 98(12):2087–2098
Williams JR, Berndt HD (1977) Sediment yield prediction based on watershed hydrology. Trans ASAE :1100–1104
Wilson JP, Gallant JC (1996) EROS: A grid-based program for estimating spatially distributed erosion indices. Comp Geosci 22(7):707–712
Wu S, Li J, Huang G (2005) An evaluation of grid size uncertainty in empirical soil loss modelling with digital elevation models. Environmental Modeling and Assessment 10:33–42
Yoshino K, Ishioka Y (2005) Guidelines for soil conservation towards integrated basin management for sustainable development: A new approach based on the assessment of soil loss risk using remote sensing and GIS. Paddy Water Environ 3:235–247
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pandey, A., Chowdary, V.M. & Mal, B.C. Identification of critical erosion prone areas in the small agricultural watershed using USLE, GIS and remote sensing. Water Resour Manage 21, 729–746 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9061-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9061-z