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Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed

  • Soils, Sec 5 • Soil and Landscape Ecology • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

Understanding the spatial dynamics of soil loss (SL) and sediment yield (SY) from ungauged watersheds would have a profound importance to devise informed land resource and flood management strategies. Such information particularly substantial for rivers like Koshi, that typically causing severe land degradation and frequent devastating flood risks to large number of inhabitants in the basin. This study aimed to estimate the spatial heterogeneity of mean annual SL and SY in Triyuga river watershed (TRW) and delivers into Sapta-Koshi.

Materials and methods

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Slope-based Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) models along with Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were applied.

Results and discussion

The mean SL and SY were found to be 31 and 3.04 t/ha/year, respectively. Accordingly, an estimated 2.2 × 105 tons of sediment was delivered into the Sapta-Koshi river annually. In this watershed, nearly 62% of the area is under the category of high to very severe soil loss rate (SLR), which together accounted for 96% of the total SL in the TRW. The critical SLR was mostly distributed along the northern escarpment of the study area. Most of the slo** areas in the northwestern and some patches of the northeastern tip regions that accompany with slope class > 26.8% are particularly vulnerable to severe SL and SY in the TRW. In this regard, the RUSLE LS factor has played the significant (r = 0.88, p < 0.001) impact over other RUSLE factors.

Conclusion

High elevation and steep slope class in the northwestern and northeastern parts of the watershed are the major SL and SY hotspot sites that require special attention and priority for conservation interventions in the TRW.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Belayneh Azene, Li Wanxin, Dil Kumar Rai, and Mahfuzur Rahman for providing constructive comments and unconditional technical supports throughout the manuscript preparation process.

Funding

The study was funded by the CAS Overseas Institutions Platform Project (Grant No. 131C11KYSB20200033).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Belayneh Yigez, Donghong **ong, Baojun Zhang, Yong Yuan, Muhammad Aslam Baig, Nirmal Mani Dahal, Wei Zhao & Yanhong Wu

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100049, China

    Belayneh Yigez, Yong Yuan, Muhammad Aslam Baig & Nirmal Mani Dahal

  3. Branch of Sustainable Mountain Development, Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, CAS-TU, Kathmandu, 44613, Nepal

    Donghong **ong, Wei Zhao & Yanhong Wu

  4. Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100085, China

    Awoke Guadie

  5. Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch 21, Ethiopia

    Awoke Guadie

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  1. Belayneh Yigez
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Correspondence to Donghong **ong.

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Yigez, B., **ong, D., Zhang, B. et al. Spatial distribution of soil erosion and sediment yield in the Koshi River Basin, Nepal: a case study of Triyuga watershed. J Soils Sediments 21, 3888–3905 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-03023-9

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