Assessing The Impact Of Land Use Land Cover Change On Soil Erosion Using Rusle And Gis: A Case Study Of Adama Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land Use And Land Cover Change (Lulcc) Is One Of The Main Sources Of Land Degradation, With Soil Erosion Representing One Of Its Most Critical Consequences. This Study Assessed The Impact Of Lulcc On Soil Erosion In Adama Woreda Over A 20 Year Period (2004???2024) Using The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (Rusle), Integrated With Geographic Information Systems (Gis) And Remote Sensing (RS). Landsat Imagery For 2004, 2014, And 2024 Was Classified Into Major Land Use Types, And The Five Rusle Parameters (R, K, Ls, C, And P) Were Derived From Meteorological Data, Soil Maps, Dem, And Land Cover Layers. The Results Showed An Increase In Cultivated Land And Settlements, While Forest, Shrubland, Grassland, And Bare Land Decreased. The Estimated Mean Annual Soil Loss For The Woreda Was 31.59 Tons/Ha/Year In 2004, 24.5 Tons/Ha/Year In 2014, And 22.30 Tons/Ha/Year In 2024, Indicating A Declining Trend. The Observed Decline In Soil Loss Is Likely Due To Improved Land Management Practices And The Reduction Of Bare Land Coverage. Despite This Reduction, Soil Erosion Remains A Significant Challenge, With Approximately 24.91% Of The Study Area Classified Under Moderate To Very Severe Erosion Risk In 2024. Cultivated Lands Were The Largest Contributors To Soil Loss, Exhibiting Mean Erosion Rates Of 17.97, 17.10, And 16.04 Tons/Ha/Year For 2004, 2014, And 2024, Respectively, Whereas Forested Areas And Water Bodies Showed The Lowest Erosion Rates. However, The Continued Presence Of Moderate To Severe Erosion Risk In Almost A Quarter Of The Area Highlights The Importance Of Focused Conservation Efforts. The Study Recommends That The Adama Woreda Office Of Agriculture, Ngos, And Local Farmers Prioritize Soil Conservation Interventions In Erosion Prone Areas To Promote Land Rehabilitation And Sustainable Land Use Planning.