Estimation of soil erosion using RUSLE modeling and geospatial tools in a tea production watershed (Chisheke in Walungu), eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

peer reviewedSoil erosion is a major concern for agricultural practices leading to topsoil losses and decreased soil fertility. Walungu’s Chisheke watershed (RD Congo) supports the staple food and industrial tea production, which are the basis for the food and income security in the region. The Chisheke watershed’s soil loss estimate is, therefore, vital for its sustainable management. To facilitate the implementation of an erosion management plan, this study estimated soil losses in the Chisheke watershed using the Revised Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)