Accelerated soil erosion is a threat to agricultural productivity because it results in the loss of fertile top soil and in pollution in downstream wetlands and water bodies. The issue is aggravated in certain contexts such as semi- arid areas, areas with steep slopes, deforested areas, and in regions with intense rainfall. Depending on the conditions in a basin, erosion can be caused by water, wind and tillage. Soil erosion also causes huge losses to the economy.

Modelling erosion in a watershed can be used to design effective measures such as reduced tillage and no-till agriculture practices, improve vegetation cover as well and plan structural measures such as terraces.