Cosmos: A Journal of Geography

Geospatial Assessment of Soil Erosion Risk Under Different LULC Categories in the Silabati River Basin, India

Soil erosion is an ongoing environmental challenge majorly caused by changes to land use and land cover (LULC). Acknowledging how LULC drives soil erosion rates is vital to effective land management and conservation planning. Geospatial technologies, such as remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS), offer highly accurate, cost-effective, and time-efficient ways of assessing soil erosion. This study indicates that barren land is particularly susceptible to soil erosion, with an Erosion Susceptibility Index (ESI) score of 4.39, followed by agricultural land at 1.28, further emphasizing the need for effective soil conservation measures as soon as possible. Other LULC categories, including built-up areas, vegetation cover, and river and water bodies, have an Erosion Susceptibility Index (ESI) score below one, signaling minimal erosion risk. To reduce soil degradation, it's essential to employ sustainable land management strategies like afforestation, contour farming, and watershed management. Continuous monitoring with advanced geospatial techniques will significantly enhance erosion prediction and enable informed decision-making, underlining the significance of incorporating technological advancements into conservation policies to maintain long-term soil health and productivity.