Soil loss data comparison using usle and watem/sedem model in the Polomska river catchment, Serbia

Abstract

Soil erosion represents one of the most severe soil degradation processes. Approximately 65% of Serbia is affected by erosion of different intensities. In the Polomska River catchment, which is a typical torrential area, the assessment of soil erosion was conducted, and soil loss was determined using USLE and WaTEM/SEDEM model. The average annual soil loss by USLE is 11.19 t.ha(-1) yr(-1), while soil loss by WaTEM model is 13.37 t.ha(-1) yr(-1), which is in accordance with mean values for Europe. Supervised classification was performed on SENTINEL 10m resolution satellite, in order to obtain land use classes. Based on these classes, soil loss values, were compared, according to different erosion intensity categories. Analysing the intensity categories inside specific land use class, the models give different and uneven results. The most evident difference of estimated soil loss, are in the class of agricultural soil, and generally, WaTEM gives higher values, in all the categories.