Article

Evaluation of Spatial Distribution of Soil Loss Using the RUSLE Model for the Akanyaru Sub-Catchment of Rwanda

Niyonkuru RoseCollege of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF), University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, RwandaNkundabashaka ValensCollege of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF), University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, RwandaAve Maria ThereseCollege of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF), University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, RwandaNtirenganya Jean BoscoCollege of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF), University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, RwandaEric Derrick BugenimanaCollege of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Sciences (CAFF), University of Rwanda, Musanze P.O. Box 210, RwandaUmaru Garba WaliDepartment of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali P.O. Box 3900, RwandaJudith UwihirweDepartment of Mechanization and Irrigation Enterprise, Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), Nyamata P.O. Box 007, RwandaAbraham JoelDepartment of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden

2026en

ABI

Abstract

Soil erosion is a major environmental problem driven by land use change and unsustainable agricultural practices, particularly in Rwanda, where half of agricultural land is moderately to severely degraded. This study assessed soil loss in the Akanyaru Sub-catchment using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrated with GIS and validated with field measurements from 876 rainfall events recorded on 12 runoff plots representing four land-use types. The model incorporated rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C) for 2024 and 2025, and a constant conservation practice (P) factor. R values ranged from 1100 to 2400 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 yr−1, K from 0.20 to 0.35 t h MJ−1 mm−1, LS from 0 to 256, and C from 0.01 to 0.99. Estimated annual soil loss ranged from 0 to 650 t ha−1 yr−1. From 2024 to 2025, mean and median soil erosion rates decreased by 5.21 and 18.7 t ha−1 yr−1, respectively, and total annual soil loss declined by 812,654 t (11.45%). Model validation showed strong agreement with field observations (R2 = 0.97, NSE = 0.95, nRMSE = 26.32%, PBIAS = −12.47%), demonstrating the reliability of the RUSLE–GIS approach for soil erosion assessment and conservation planning.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.3390/land15091697

Citations and references

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