Vulnerability Assessment of Soil Erosion in Southwestern Hubei Province Based on RUSLE Model and Geographic Detector

Abstract

[Objective] Soil erosion is a prominent ecological problem in southwestern Hubei Province. A reasonable assessment of the vulnerability of soil erosion in this area and exploration of its driving mechanisms are prerequisites for effective soil and water conservation measures. [Methods] The effects of natural and socio-economic factors on soil erosion in southwest Hubei were analyzed from the perspective of the human-land coupling system. The evaluation index system of soil erosion vulnerability in southwest Hubei was constructed from three aspects: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability. The comprehensive weighting method was used to determine the index weight. [Results] (1) From 2010 to 2020, the vulnerability of soil erosion in southwest Hubei generally showed a trend of decreasing first and then increasing. The vulnerability of soil erosion with strong and above intensity showed a fragmented distribution pattern, which was mainly concentrated in the central and southern parts of southwest Hubei and the western part of Yichang municipal district in the east. (2) The area with the highest sensitivity in the study area was concentrated at an altitude of 800 ~ 1 500 m, and the sensitivity was the largest at a slope of 25° ~ 35°, and showed a decreasing trend to both sides. When the slope was greater than 15°, the area with higher and higher sensitivity increased sharply; (3) Soil erosion vulnerability was higher than soil erosion intensity at higher and above soil erosion levels, and lower than soil erosion intensity at lower and below soil erosion levels. There was a synergistic trend between soil erosion vulnerability and soil erosion intensity. (4) The distribution pattern of soil erosion vulnerability was caused by a multi-factor synergy. The analysis of the geographical detector showed that slope, vegetation coverage, education quality, and urbanization rate have strong explanatory power for soil erosion vulnerability. [Conclusion] In the future, it is necessary to attach great importance to the protection of vegetation coverage in areas with a slope>15°, and to enhance the awareness of local residents about soil and water conservation by improving the quality of local education and strengthening the publicity of soil and water conservation.

Keywords

• southwest hubei
• soil erosion vulnerability
• rusle model
• geographical detector
• temporal and spatial changes