The Effect of Erosion Control Practices on the Vulnerability of Soil Degradation in Oued EL Malleh Catchment using the USLE Model Integrated into GIS, Morocco

Water erosion is a major problem in semi-arid region where decreases the dam reservoir design capacity, agricultural yield productivity, and increases other environmental impacts. This phenomenon widely predominant Morocco, particularly Oued El Malleh watershed Casablanca Settat region. Most soil happens gradually which makes it challenging to notice. Hence, monitoring of degradation under modelling-based, such as Geographic Information System (GIS) can help decision-makers quantify eroded choose best mitigation measures. Many control practices have been implemented The 2008, covers surface area 3127 km2. Even though, still dramatic To date, no one has attempted work on impact conservation factor at level watershed, well sustainability effectiveness water already implemented. Therefore, periodic evaluating imposed. achieve this purpose, we used Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) spatially assess study area, find out most vulnerable erosion, notice efficiency actual elaborate new results shown that rate loss Malleh, including interventions, varies from 0 90 t. ha-1.year-1; with an average 0.65 ha-1.year-1. characterized by moderate severe slopes, some Length Steepness Factor LS exceeds %. For reason, elaborated map, measures according slope. rate; following approach; 64 t.ha-1.year-1. Furthermore, followed approach could be valuable for assessing similar area.
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Casablanca-Settat lands become progressively infertile depleted soils
 tidal watershed
 was estimated using USLE model ArcGIS tool
 ha-1.year-1, sedimentary found 8.27 ha-1.year-1
 Sustainable land management limit degradation
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT