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Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models

Published in Hydrology (Volume 9, Issue 4)
Received: 20 November 2021    Accepted: 8 December 2021    Published: 24 December 2021
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Abstract

Soil erosion is a globally challenging issue that hinders agricultural productivity by enhancing land degradation and loss to the top fertile soil. Although it is a global issue, its effect is adverse on farmers dwell in developing countries. Hence, providing information on soil loss is crucial to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation measures. Accordingly, erosion estimation models were developed and grouped as empirical, conceptual, and physical-based broad umbrella. This review paper primarily is intended to compare the opportunities and limitations of widely implemented soil erosion estimation models and review their applicability by selecting widely used models such as: USLE, RUSLE, SLEMSA, and WEPP. The result of this review revealed that the so reviewed erosion models have been designed to predict soil loss from sheet and rill erosion. Evidence from studies indicated that R/USLE models can be universally used by calibrating to the local environmental conditions. They are simple, requires less data and computational time, however; they are not event responsive and measure soil loss from gully and stream-bank erosion. But, RUSLE model has different parameter calculation procedure than the USLE. This study also depicts the SLEMSA model treats soil erosion factors as a separate entities and is highly influenced by LS factors. The WEPP model has capability to estimate soil loss in a short time scale and out-of-place erosion rates, but; it only works for individual hillslope. Thus, based on the result of this review the following recommendations are forwarded for further study to fill the gaps; upgrading of R/USLE parameters, modification of topographic sub-model of SLEMSA, and revision of essential parameters in WEPP model to estimate erosion from large catchments.

Published in Hydrology (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12
Page(s) 79-87
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Soil Loss, Event-based Erosion, Erosion Models, Model Calibration, Agricultural Productivity

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Dawit Kanito, Samuel Feyissa. (2021). Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models. Hydrology, 9(4), 79-87. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12

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    ACS Style

    Dawit Kanito; Samuel Feyissa. Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models. Hydrology. 2021, 9(4), 79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12

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    AMA Style

    Dawit Kanito, Samuel Feyissa. Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models. Hydrology. 2021;9(4):79-87. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12,
      author = {Dawit Kanito and Samuel Feyissa},
      title = {Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models},
      journal = {Hydrology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {79-87},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20210904.12},
      abstract = {Soil erosion is a globally challenging issue that hinders agricultural productivity by enhancing land degradation and loss to the top fertile soil. Although it is a global issue, its effect is adverse on farmers dwell in developing countries. Hence, providing information on soil loss is crucial to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation measures. Accordingly, erosion estimation models were developed and grouped as empirical, conceptual, and physical-based broad umbrella. This review paper primarily is intended to compare the opportunities and limitations of widely implemented soil erosion estimation models and review their applicability by selecting widely used models such as: USLE, RUSLE, SLEMSA, and WEPP. The result of this review revealed that the so reviewed erosion models have been designed to predict soil loss from sheet and rill erosion. Evidence from studies indicated that R/USLE models can be universally used by calibrating to the local environmental conditions. They are simple, requires less data and computational time, however; they are not event responsive and measure soil loss from gully and stream-bank erosion. But, RUSLE model has different parameter calculation procedure than the USLE. This study also depicts the SLEMSA model treats soil erosion factors as a separate entities and is highly influenced by LS factors. The WEPP model has capability to estimate soil loss in a short time scale and out-of-place erosion rates, but; it only works for individual hillslope. Thus, based on the result of this review the following recommendations are forwarded for further study to fill the gaps; upgrading of R/USLE parameters, modification of topographic sub-model of SLEMSA, and revision of essential parameters in WEPP model to estimate erosion from large catchments.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Comparison and Applicability of Selected Soil Erosion Estimation Models
    AU  - Dawit Kanito
    AU  - Samuel Feyissa
    Y1  - 2021/12/24
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12
    T2  - Hydrology
    JF  - Hydrology
    JO  - Hydrology
    SP  - 79
    EP  - 87
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7617
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20210904.12
    AB  - Soil erosion is a globally challenging issue that hinders agricultural productivity by enhancing land degradation and loss to the top fertile soil. Although it is a global issue, its effect is adverse on farmers dwell in developing countries. Hence, providing information on soil loss is crucial to plan and implement appropriate soil and water conservation measures. Accordingly, erosion estimation models were developed and grouped as empirical, conceptual, and physical-based broad umbrella. This review paper primarily is intended to compare the opportunities and limitations of widely implemented soil erosion estimation models and review their applicability by selecting widely used models such as: USLE, RUSLE, SLEMSA, and WEPP. The result of this review revealed that the so reviewed erosion models have been designed to predict soil loss from sheet and rill erosion. Evidence from studies indicated that R/USLE models can be universally used by calibrating to the local environmental conditions. They are simple, requires less data and computational time, however; they are not event responsive and measure soil loss from gully and stream-bank erosion. But, RUSLE model has different parameter calculation procedure than the USLE. This study also depicts the SLEMSA model treats soil erosion factors as a separate entities and is highly influenced by LS factors. The WEPP model has capability to estimate soil loss in a short time scale and out-of-place erosion rates, but; it only works for individual hillslope. Thus, based on the result of this review the following recommendations are forwarded for further study to fill the gaps; upgrading of R/USLE parameters, modification of topographic sub-model of SLEMSA, and revision of essential parameters in WEPP model to estimate erosion from large catchments.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Natural Resources Management Directorate, Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Areka Agricultural Research Center, Areka, Ethiopia

  • School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Science, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia

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