Geospatial Analysis
of Soil Erosion Patterns in a river basin of Western Ghats
Emy Poulose, Abdu Rahiman K.U. and Subha Vishnudas
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 29(12); 32-38;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2912rjce032038; (2025)
Abstract
Loss of soil from river basins by water is a concerning issue for India which is
an agricultural country. The particular distribution of quantitated soil erosion
must be obtained to propose effective soil conservation practices. Revised Universal
Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a tool to estimate soil erosion distribution spatially.
The properties of Vembanad lake that supports large biodiversity and ecosystem is
altered by the sediments of Muvattupuzha River. The river, originating from the
Western Ghats drains into Vembanad lake, has undergone many changes.
In this work, an attempt has been made to determine the soil erosion in the Muvattupuha
River basin through the years. Annual sediment loss from the basin is obtained for
three consecutive decades. Maps of soil yield, sediment delivery ratio and sediment
transportation index of the basin for 2021 are also developed.
