Land Use and Climatic Factors in Soil Erosion Dynamics: A Case Study of Hazara, Pakistan with RUSLE and GIS

Abstract

Soil loss was quantified along with essential erosion factors within Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan using the RUSLE model through ArcGIS™, QGIS, and Excel. Five soil loss classes were identified, with erosion rates ranging from 6.11 to 111.5 t/ha/year. Central and southwestern regions had the highest erosion due to steep slopes, high rainfall (763 MJ mm/h ha/yr), and sparse vegetation. Southern Hazara showed moderate to high erodibility (K-factor: 0.127–0.155) due to bare land, while northern areas had lower erosion risk. These findings highlight the need for immediate soil conservation and sustainable land management strategies.