Land Use and Climatic Factors in Soil Erosion Dynamics: A Case Study of Hazara, Pakistan with RUSLE and GIS
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Soil loss was quantified along with essential erosion factors within Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan using the RUSLE model through ArcGIS™, QGIS, and Excel. Five soil loss classes were identified, with erosion rates ranging from 6.11 to 111.5 t/ha/year. Central and southwestern regions had the highest erosion due to steep slopes, high rainfall (763 MJ mm/h ha/yr), and sparse vegetation. Southern Hazara showed moderate to high erodibility (K-factor: 0.127–0.155) due to bare land, while northern areas had lower erosion risk. These findings highlight the need for immediate soil conservation and sustainable land management strategies.
Authors: Ehtisham Mehmood, Haishen Lü
Institution: Hohai University
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413604264