Soil Loss Estimation Using RUSLE in Hard Rock Terrain: a Case Study of Bundelkhand, India

The present study revealed the potential runoff estimation, soil erosion, and scope of groundwater recharge in the Bundelkhand region in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The estimation of runoff and soil erosion has provided a platform to evaluate the realistic potential for water conservation in the study area. Soil Conservation Services and Curve Number (SCS-CN) method has been used to calculate the runoff volume. The soil loss has been calculated using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The estimated runoff varies from 5.5 to 28% of the total rainfall in the study area, while soil loss is estimated maximum (198.2 ton/ha/yr) in the watershed-I. The soil loss estimated has also been validated with a fair degree of accuracy using results of previous investigators. This finding provides the roadmap for the selection of suitable artificial recharge structures to augment the groundwater in the study area.