Using GIS technology for identification of agricultural land with an increased risk of erosion

Abstract

The article discusses the results of spatial analysis of agricultural land in geographic information systems for automated identification of arable land with high risk of soil water erosion. For the Belgorod Region, which has a high soil and climatic potential and is one of the leading agrarian regions of Russia, a spatial model for potential clean fallow-based rainfall erosion has been constructed. For calculations, the RUSLE equation was used, and the input data were obtained from a digital elevation model with 30 m resolution, 1:200,000 soil map and interpolated data on rainfall. As a result, we have identified the areas with very strong potential erosion (more than 20 t/ha per year) and generated a regional geodatabase. The obtained results can be used to plan measures to change the structure of crop rotation on the slopes and environmental renaturation of degraded arable land.