Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

RISK ASSESSMENT OF SOIL EROSION DOWNSTREAM OF THE PAHANG RIVER BASIN WITH RUSLE MODEL

Dawi Muftah Agele, Tukimat Bin Lihan, Sahibin Abd Rahim and Zulfahmi Abd Rahman

Abstract

Severe and intense rainfall in tropical regions leads to soil erosion. This study utilizes the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, geographic information systems, and remote sensing images to assess soil erosion downstream of the Pahang River basin, Malaysia. Spot-5 satellite images are employed to ascertain land use compositions. Soil, land use, digital elevation, flow accumulation, and climatic data are examined to generate the RUSLE variables. The estimated soil erosion at the catchment area range from 0 ton/acr/yr to 61 ton/acr/yr. Extremely low to moderate values of soil erosion are obtained from secondary (rubber, palm oil, durian, and peat) forests, and high–moderate to extremely high values are obtained from agricultural zones and steep lands (flood plains). High soil loss occurred because of mean annual rainfall ranging from 1800 mm to 3750 mm, R-factor ranging from 1422MJ mm ha”1 yr”1 to 2289MJ mm ha”1 yr”1, and LS value ranging from 0 to 89.K factor ranged from 0.035Mg h MJ “1 mm “1to 0.50 Mg h MJ “1mm “1.Erosion risk expressed as high soil loss rates were mainly determined by high LS and K values.LS and K factor areprimary factors of the soil erosion,and they have strong relation in soil loss areas, Rainfall and land cover factors are secondary factors facilitate in the soil loss.