Geomodelling of Destruction of Soils of Ukrainian Steppe Due to Water Erosion

Abstract

Spatial raster distribution models of the values of factors influencing the potential soil erosion hazard were created using GIS technologies. The erosion hazard was estimated using the modified RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model. The potential of annual soil loss of arable land was calculated. The spatial gradation of erosion violation of administrative and territorial units in the steppe zone of Ukraine was provided. About 32.7% of arable land that is subject to high erosion hazard was allocated. About 48 administrative and territorial units have a specific area less than 5% of erosion disturbed lands. They are characterized by a resistant type of agrolandscapes regarding the water-erosion processes. Most administrative and territorial units with high erosive-accumulative potential (the percentage of the area is 15% or more) are located in the western and southwestern parts of the steppe zone of Ukraine. The specific area of erosion hazardous lands reaches up to 32% in separate administrative-territorial units. The obtained results allow determining the need for a spatially discrete-distribution implementation of adaptive-landscape anti-erosion design with the elements of soil-protective agriculture.

Keywords

• water erosion
• RUSLE
• rainfall erosivity
• GIS technologies
• soil erodability
• topography factor
• erosion index for crops
• steppe zone