Mapping of soil erodibility factor (K) using geospatial technique for soils in Nashik district, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Soil erosion is a critical environmental concern, particularly in semi-arid regions. Soil erodibility is an important factor that measures the susceptibility of soil particles for erosion due to water or wind. The study aims to assess the soil erodibility factor (K) for Nashik district, Maharashtra, India by field soil sampling and laboratory analysis. Soil samples were collected from 178 locations within Nashik district, with a 10x10 km spatial grid. The samples were analyzed for understanding different physico-chemical properties including soil texture, organic carbon content and permeability. The soil erodibility factor (K) was calculated using the widely accepted equation developed by Wischmeier and Smith (1978). The method integrates various soil parameters including Soil’s texture (comprising the percentages of sand, very fine sand, silt and clay), organic matter content and codes representing soil structure and permeability for assessing the erodibility factor. The soil erodibility factor (K) for soils in Nashik district varied from 0.13 and 0.53 t-ha-h/ha-MJ-mm, showing a considerable spatial variation throughout the district, with an average value of 0.29 t-ha-h/ha-MJ-mm, classifying the soils as moderate susceptible to erosion. Soil erodibility map of district was generated using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation technique in ArcGIS software. The resulting map shows that 66.35% of the district’s area was classified within the moderate erodibility range, while 32.36% area was identified as moderately high erodibility range. The study provides a clear understanding of soil erodibility variations in Nashik district. It also highlights, the need of improving organic carbon content and adoption of soil conservation practices which will result reduce erosion risks.