Universal Soil Loss
Universal soil loss, abbreviated as USLE, predicts the potential long-term average annual soil loss per unit area.
Universal Soil Loss Formula |
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\( A = R \; K \; LS \; C \; P \) | ||
Symbol | English | Metric |
\( A \) = estimated annual soil loss | \(tons-acre-yr\) | \(tonnes-hectare-yr\) |
\( C \) = crop/vegitation and management factor | \(dimensionless\) | |
\( R \) = R factor - rainfall and runoff by geographic location (the summed erosive potential of all rainfall events in a year) | \(dimensionless\) | |
\( LS \) = slope length-gradient factor | \(dimensionless\) | |
\( P \) = support practice factor (reflects the effects of particles that will reduce the amount and rate of the water runoff and thus reduce the amount of erosion) | \(dimensionless\) | |
\( K \) = soil erodibility factor (units of soil loss per unit of soil erosivity) | \(dimensionless\) |
Tags: Soil