A novel approach for quantifying and spatializing soil water erosion in semi-arid ecosystems using RUSLE and geospatial tools

Abstract

Soil water erosion (SWE) poses agronomic, economic, and environmental challenges in semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems. This study quantifies and spatializes SWE in the upstream Oued Sebou watershed, located east of Moulay Yacoub province, Morocco, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with GIS, remote sensing data, and a statistical framework that includes both descriptive and inferential analyses. Unlike conventional RUSLE applications, this approach incorporates statistical analyses to identify the primary causal factors and the classes that contribute most to erosion. Predicted soil losses ranged from 0.12 to 253.45 t/ha/year, with a mean annual loss of 32.83 t/ha/year. Statistical analysis showed that slope length and steepness (LS) and soil erodibility (K) are the dominant factors influencing erosion. Critical areas of heightened vulnerability were mapped, guiding for prioritizing soil conservation interventions. This methodology offers a transparent and adaptable framework for identifying erosion hotspots and their main drivers, providing useful insights for sustainable land management and targeted mitigation strategies. • Lack of accurate SWE quantification raises agronomic & environmental concerns • SWE quantification is challenging in semi-arid Mediterranean environments • Developed RUSLE-GIS framework identifies SWE hotspots & causal factors • Integration of geospatial tools & statistics reveals key erosion drivers