Estimation of Soil Erosion by RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model – A Case Study of Situ Ciseupan Catchment Area, West Java

• Main Author: Syamuda, Theo
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/35914
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Erosion is the process of gradual destruction of soils into particles and transported from one place to another due to being carried away by water or wind. Erosion rate of an area is influenced by climate, soil, topography, vegetation and soil management factors which will varies from one place to another. Each type of Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) have different erosion rates depending on the value of factors affecting it. Situ Ciseupan area has a border with a conservation area and expected to function as the buffering zone, yet the local people utilize this area as agricultural land and acts as main economic tools for them. This particular character causing Situ Ciseupan area to have a higher potential of erosion process. This study aims to estimate the rate of soil loss in Situ Ciseupan area based on current LU/LC conditions and several hypothesis LU/LC conditions. Soil loss rate under hypothetical conditions is simulated based on five types of hypothesis LU/LC conditions. The soil loss rate produced by spatial analysis using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. Soil erosion by RUSLE model made by multiplying the value of five factors affecting erosion rate. This final results represent the soil loss in the amount of ton/ha/year. The study shows that average soil loss rate of current LU/LC condition in the Situ Ciseupan area is 35,3 tons/ha/year, consisting of 76.5% areas with mild erosion class, 10.4% area with moderate erosion class, 6.3% area with high erosion class, 5.6% area with very high erosion area, and 1.3% of severe erosion class. Areas with very high and severe classes contributed 64.71% of the total soil loss that occured in Situ Ciseupan area. For simulation purpose, five of hypothetical land type conditions were made assuming that the land just consist of one type of land, this five hypothetical land types are bare soil, settlements, grassland, agriculture land, and forest. The lowest rate of soil loss resulted from simulation using forest land type with an average soil loss rate of 2 tons/ha/year, bare soil land type produces an area with the highest rate of erosion of 410 tons/ha/year. Soil loss rate in Situ Ciseupan area will increase by 1163% if 100% of current LU/LC condition converted into bare soil, increasing 873% if 100% current LU/LC condition converted into settlements area, increasing 520% if 100% converted to grassland, increase by 317% if 100% converted to agriculture land, and decrease by 93% if 100% converted to forest land.