RUSLE C-Factor Estimation from Remote Sensing in Ecuadorian Basin Over the Period 2001–2020
摘要
Soil erosion by rainfall is an Environmental problem that is intensified by the lack of attention to the quality of land cover. Examining land use and land cover is essential to pinpoint regions with a high susceptibility to rainfall erosion and develop strategies for sustainable conservation. However, the lack of information related to the correct registration of crop types throughout the Ecuadorian territory, together with a local mapping of soil cover types, are the main limitation of this analysis. Hence, the primary aim of this study is to calculate the RUSLE C-Factor through a methodological approach that uses information from remote sensing in the Ecuadorian territory. The methodology consisted of delimiting the study area, obtaining NDVI data from 2001 to 2020 to calculate the C-Factor using a widely used equation. The outcomes indicated considerable variability in the C-Factor across the basins of Ecuador, registering lower values in the ATBs, which is attributed to the existence of greater rainfall and the appearance of a better percentage of forests in the soil cover.