Application of geo spatial techniques in land degradation risk assessment in Busano subcounty, Mbale district.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess and evaluate the risk and extent of land degradation in Busano subcounty, Mbale district using GIS techniques together with a multi-criteria approach. The data were obtained through scientific literature review and different sources like NARO, Ministry of Water and Environment among others. Different parameters/indicators of land degradation were used. Different thematic layers were derived using ArcGIS 10.2.1 software. All the layers were overlaid and integrated in GIS setting to generate a land degradation model for Busano Subcounty. In this study, the weighted overlay method was used to identify the areas of the subcounty that are vulnerable and at high risk to land degradation, using soil acidity, salinity, population and soil erosion. The indicator of soil erosion was developed from the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model and its comprising factors (i.e. erosivity, soil erodibility, slope, cover management and support practice factors). This land degradation risk assessment will be valuable to land managers and environmentalists, agricultural officers and farmers in land-use and soil conservation planning. The main aim of the case study was to assess the extent of land degradation and identify the areas in Busano that are vulnerable and at risk by use of GIS tools. for analysis to support location decisions with respect to the implementation of agricultural land planning. ArcGIS was deployed for spatial modeling, analysis and data integrated with Multicriteria evaluation, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for decision making. KEY WORDS: Land Degradation, RUSLE, GIS, Multicriteria Evaluation, AHP.