Assessing Soil Erosion Risk in Kazakhstan: A RUSLE-Based Approach for
Land Rehabilitation
Abstract
Soil degradation is increasing in Kazakhstan, leading to severe losses
in land productivity. The Almaty region, the country’s leading
agricultural and industrial province, is among the most affected areas.
The objective of this study is to evaluate, for the first time, the
applicability of the revised model of the Universal Soil Loss Equation
(USLE) for estimating the rate of soil erosion and identifying areas
susceptible to soil erosion in the Almaty region. The revised USLE
(RUSLE) factors, including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope
length, and steepness, were represented using data on soil, topography,
and land use/vegetation cover from the region. Using the RUSLE model’s
algorithms, we generated an erosion risk map, emphasizing areas with a
high potential for erosion. The results show higher soil erosion rates
in agricultural areas with steep slopes and inadequate environmental
practices—annual soil losses in the region as high as 26,279 t/ha/year
in high-risk areas. On average, approximately 88% of the region’s
territory loses up to 103 t/ha/year, while 9% loses about three times
as much. Such potential soil erosion risks warrant the implementation of
efficient soil conservation strategies in the region to protect soils,
ensure desired agricultural productivity, and support journey in
achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.