Determination of the potential soil losses and prioritization of sub-watersheds: Insight from North African highland system

Abstract

Soil erosion has negative effects on people and property, hinders the sustainable development of natural resources, and poses a threat to the economic growth of territories worldwide, and is particularly acute for African countries. Consequently, identifying and prioritizing areas susceptible to this phenomenon is crucial for the implementation of efficient preventative measures. In this study, the empirical Erosion Potential Method (EPM) was used to quantify soil losses, and two Game Theory (GT) algorithms (Borda and Condorcet) were employed to identify locations prone to soil erosion and prioritize sub-watershed (SW) based on hydromorphometric characteristics in a hydrological system from High Atlas in Morocco. For this purpose, 26 factors were calculated, subsequently, a linear correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between potential soil erosion and various influencing factors. The EPM model findings indicated average loss rates of roughly 3356 m3/km2/year, which are corroborated by 217 inventory points gathered in the most productive sediment locations, with an AUC value of 80%. The results of prioritization using GT algorithms show that the SW6 and SW8 are classified as areas with high vulnerability to soil erosion, and the sub-watersheds located upstream of the Lakhdar river watershed are the units that deserve prioritization in terms of planning intervention. The validation of results indicates that the Borda algorithm performed better (AUC= 92%) than the Condorcet algorithm (AUC= 72%). This innovative approach enhances our understanding of erosive processes within specific spatial units, enabling informed decision-making and making a substantial contribution to the sustainable and efficient management of water resources. This represents a significant advancement compared to previous studies in the region.