Characteristics of Soil Erosion in Guangdong Province Based on the USLE and InVEST Models

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.113.5

Abstract:
Taking Guangdong Province as the study area, this research integrates multi-source geospatial data—including DEM, precipitation, soil, and land cover—and couples the USLE and InVEST models. The study calculates five core factors: rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), vegetation cover (C), and conservation practice (P), to reveal the spatial heterogeneity and formation mechanisms of both potential and actual soil erosion. The results indicate that rainfall erosivity exhibits a spatial pattern that is generally higher in the south and west, and lower in the north and east. High values of soil erodibility are concentrated in the core Pearl River Delta (PRD) region and the coastal areas of western Guangdong (Zhanjiang), while low values are distributed in the mountainous and hilly regions of northern and eastern Guangdong. Land use is dominated by forestland, whereas construction land is clustered within the PRD urban agglomeration. High-risk zones for potential soil erosion are primarily located in the Nanling Mountains of northern Guangdong and the hilly areas of western Guangdong, largely controlled by natural background conditions such as topography and soil properties. Although vegetation cover and conservation measures significantly mitigate regional soil erosion intensity, moderate to severe erosion risks persist in the Leizhou Peninsula and the low-hilly agricultural areas of northern Guangdong. This study clarifies the spatial distribution patterns of soil erosion, providing a scientific basis for precise soil and water loss prevention, ecological restoration, and territorial spatial planning.

Keywords:
Guangdong Province, USLE model, InVEST model, Soil Erosion

Article Info:
Received: 10 Apr 2026; Received in revised form: 04 May 2026; Accepted: 08 May 2026; Available online: 16 May 2026

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