Soil loss estimation in Ethiopia: a comprehensive review of the RUSLE model integrated with geospatial technologies

Abstract

Soil erosion in Ethiopia harms agricultural production, water quality, and overall ecosystem health. Effective soil loss estimation can help minimize these outcomes. The implementation of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in Ethiopia has not been sufficiently evaluated. Thus, the main objective of this review is to systematically review the comprehensive strengths and limitations of the RUSLE model applications for soil loss estimation. Specifically, it evaluates the specific parameters used, the type of input data, the validation approaches, and the role of GIS and remote sensing in the computation process of the RUSLE Model. An extensive search method was employed to classify suitable research papers about applying the RUSLE model in estimating soil erosion in Ethiopia. The review underscores that different approaches have been used to compute the five parameters of the RUSLE model. Key strengths of the RUSLE model include its widespread acceptance and adaptability to various environmental conditions; however, notable limitations are evident, regarding the validation and calibration processes. This review highlights that the scale of study areas varies widely, from 18.33 to 1,119,683 km2. Soil loss estimates across the reviewed studies ranged from 12.94 to 576 t ha−1 yr−1. The findings of this review presented here are critical for using the RUSLE model to estimate soil loss integrating it with other process-based models and the advanced machine learning technologies. Ultimately, this review aids in improving soil resource management and ecological sustainability in Ethiopia.