Spatial Assessment of Soil Erosion Risk Using RUSLE Embedded in GIS Environment: A Case Study of Jhelum River Watershed

The watershed area of the Mangla Reservoir spans across Himalayan region India and Pakistan, primarily consisting Jhelum River basin. is rugged with highly elevated, hilly terrain relatively thin vegetation cover, which significantly increases river’s sediment output, especially during monsoon season, leading to a decline in reservoir’s storage capacity. This work assesses soil erosion risk (Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJ&K), Pakistan) using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). RUSLE components, including conservation support or control practice factor (P), erodibility (K), slope length steepness (LS), rainfall erosivity (R), crop cover (C), were integrated compute erosion. intensity maps generated by computing parameters, then physical factors such as units, elevation, slope, land uses/cover examine how these affect spatial patterns loss. 2021 data utilized (K) map was created world surface prepared Food Agriculture Organization (FAO). (LS) rough Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM). analysis revealed that primary use cultivated land, accounting for 27% area, slopes 30% higher present two-thirds watershed. By multiplying five variables, study determined annual average loss 23.47 t ha−1 yr−1. In areas dense mixed forest rates ranged from 0.23 yr−1 25 findings indicated 55.18% research has low risk, 18.62% medium 13.66% high 11.6% very risk. study’s will provide guidelines policy/decision makers better management