Mapping soil erosion–prone sites through GIS and remote sensing for the Tifnout Askaoun watershed, southern Morocco

The Moroccan High Atlas is very sensitive to soil erosion due its steep slopes, torrential rains, and degraded plant cover. degradation of fertile soils in this mountainous watershed influences negatively upon agricultural productivity. objective study quantify the Tifnout Askaoun southern Morocco. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), geographic information system (GIS) techniques, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data were adopted for mapping annual rate loss area around 1488 km2. spatial distribution rates was obtained by integrating geo-environmental variables into a GIS. These are rainfall erosivity (R) generated from TRMM data, erodibility factor (K), length slope inclination (LS), vegetation management (C), practice support (P). Results reveal an average 14.44 t/ha/year good correlation with steepness (r = 0.72) lesser extent 0.63). sub-catchments mapped grouped five classes vulnerability risk, results indicating that Toubkal sub-catchment most threatened water risk as reflected 48.05 t/ha/year. Approaches study, which conducted between 2017 2019, may benefit researchers decision-makers concerned primarily areas where impacts activities rural population.