Evaluation of Soil Loss and Sediment Yield Based on GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in a Complex Amazon Mountain Basin of Peru: Case Study Mayo River Basin, San Martin Region

Katherine del Carmen Camacho-Zorogastúa (), Julio Cesar Minga, Jhon Walter Gómez-Lora, Víctor Hugo Gallo-Ramos and Victor Garcés Díaz
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Katherine del Carmen Camacho-Zorogastúa: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae (UCSS), Los Olivos 15301, Peru
Julio Cesar Minga: Facultad de Ingeniería Geográfica, Ambiental y Ecoturismo, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (UNFV), Cercado de Lima 15082, Peru
Jhon Walter Gómez-Lora: Facultad de Ingeniería Geográfica, Ambiental y Ecoturismo, Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (UNFV), Cercado de Lima 15082, Peru
Víctor Hugo Gallo-Ramos: Instituto Especializado de Investigación y Gestión del Agua (INEIGA), Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (UNFV), Lima 15082, Peru
Victor Garcés Díaz: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Católica Sedes Sapientiae (UCSS), Los Olivos 15301, Peru

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: This study aims to estimate the average annual rate of soil loss by rainfall in terms of spatial distribution and sediment rate using RUSLE and GIS techniques. Additionally, remote sensing and available soil property information are applied for erosion analysis. The work reveals a very severe type of soil erosion, with the highest mean rate in the steep areas. Annual mean erosion in many parts of the basin is in the range of 0 to 9237.0 t/km 2 /year with an average of 403 t/km 2 /year. Approximately 45% (in the upper basin) of the total area has moderate to high soil loss by water, especially in five catchments, namely Serranoyacu, Naranjos, Naranjillo, Yuracyacu, and Tonchima at 886.8 t/km 2 /yr, 985.1 t/km 2 /yr, 691.3 t/km 2 /yr, 567.3 t/km 2 /yr, and 506.9 t/km 2 /yr, respectively. Catchment-wise soil loss estimates suggest that these areas are experiencing much higher soil loss in comparison to others; hence, these catchments are prioritized for soil conservation efforts. Sediment rate assessments indicate high sediment deposition along the flow direction of the mainstream of the catchment; in the upper Mayo part, the highest sediment rates are in Yuracyacu, Serranoyacu and Tonchima. Finally, the parts most vulnerable to increased erosion rate are the central part of the basin, which indicates progressive sediment deposition.

Keywords: Mayo river basin; soil erosion; RUSLE; GIS; sediment rate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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