The development of the usle was the culmination of decades of soil erosion. The term a of universal soil loss equation usle represents the annual soil loss per unit area per unit time. Pdf on jan 1, 20, armand larocque and others published universal soil loss equation usle find, read and cite all the research you. Revised universal soil loss equation for application in canada. Smith, has been the most widely accepted and utilized soil loss equation for over 30 years. Smith, has been the most widely accepted and utilized soil. Pdf error assessment in the universal soil loss equation. Patricia hain, department of agronomy and horticulture, university of nebraskalincoln. The potential for erosion can be calculated using the revised universal soil loss equation rusle. T is not a part of the universal soil loss equation. There are several general conditions, unique to any site, which effect erosion by water, and which are factors in the usle or rusle equation. It is the only version of rusle2 to be used for official purposes by nrcs field offices. It was later revised in 1997 in an effort to better estimate the values of the various parameters in the usle 2. Revised universal soil loss equation 2 rusle2 documentation.
New rainfallrunoff erosivity term values r in the western united states, based on more than 1,200 gauge locations. The universal soil loss equation usle predicts the longterm average annual rate of erosion on a field slope based on rainfall pattern, soil type, topography, crop system and management practices. Pdf estimation of soil erosion using revised universal soil. Using the universal soil loss equation erosion calculator. The equation uses the values of parameters of the factors that affect the soil erosion.
Assume syracuse, new york, as the locale of a construction site. Pdf universal soil loss equation usle researchgate. The predicted average annual soil loss is found by multiplying a cp factor by a fallow soil loss amount from table i. Erosion prediction revised universal soil loss equation rusle the revised universal soil loss equation rusle is an easily and widely used computer program that estimates rates of soil erosion caused by rainfall and associated overland flow. Universal soil erosion equation for questions 17, determine what the rate of soil erosion will be without factoring in sustainability measures for two different sites in jordan. Universal soil loss equation usle a r x k x ls x c x p. Beginning 10,000 years ago, during a period called the neolithic, people started farming in jordan. Tableofcontents illinoiserosioncontrolprogram 1 theuniversalsoillossequationusee 1 rainfallrfactor 2 soilerodibilitykfactor 2 slopelengthandsteepnesslsfactor 3 croppingandmanagementcfactor 3 conservationpracticespfactor 5 usingtheusee 6 workingthroughsomeexamples 6 solvingtheuseeforc 7 gettinghelp 7 tables 816 appendix. Thenameuniversalsoillossequationoriginatedasameans ofdistinguishing this prediction rom the highly regionalized. A represents the potential longterm average annual soil loss in tonnes per hectare tons per acre per year. The universal soil loss equation usle is widely used to estimate erosion in the united states and foreign countries. The process of water erosion has been described by the usda universal soil loss equation usle, later modified to the revised universal soil loss equation rusle. A universal soil loss equation has been developed by the soil scientists to estimate the soil loss from any area around the globe. This is the amount, which is compared to the tolerable soil loss limits.
June 1985 in theend,eachuseroftheusleis obligatedtodecideif the usle is valid for his application, and to inspect the resultsheobtainswith it. A rkls for bare ground conditions of graded areas of construction sites. The universal soil loss equation usle enables planners to predict the average rate of soil erosion for each feasible alter native combination of crop system and management practices in association with a specified soil type, rainfall pattern, and topography. The universal soil loss equation usle is hailed as one of the most significant developments in soil and water conservation in the 20 thcentury. The soil is a schoharie silt loam with a k value of. Soil erosion estimates using revised universal soil loss equation for sheet and rill erosion as mentioned above, soil losses on construction sites can be predicted by using the revised universal soil loss equation rusle. The results of this study would indicate a lesser soil loss at high slopes than does the relationship used in the universal soil loss equation, but a greater soil loss than predicted by the. With the revised universal soil loss equation rusle title. For a twodimensional hillslope, the index is equivalent to the combined ls factors in the revised universal soil loss equation rusle, but it is simpler to use and conceptually easier to.
A comprehensive methodology that integrates revised universal soil loss equation rusle model and geographic information system gis techniques were adopted to determine the soil erosion vulnerability of a forested mountainous subwatershed in. These equations, originally developed to predict soil loss or movement from agricultural fields, but since expanded to include forestlands and rangelands, are instructional because. The universal soil loss equation usle predicts the longterm average annual rate of erosion on a field slope based on rainfall pattern, soil. It is a limit of the average annual loss that an acre of. A predicted soil loss r rainfall and runoff k soil erodibility ls slope length and steepness c. Viticultural applications for napa county california introduction the earliest soil erosion prediction model, known as the musgrave equation, was conceived and initially tested in the 1940s. This lesson covers the topic of soil erosion using the revised universal soil loss equation rusle. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 official nrcs rusle2 program and official nrcs database.
Soil erosion assessment using gis and revised universal soil. Erosion index is a measure of the erosive force of a specific rainfall k soil erodability factor erosion rateunit of erosion index for a specific soil in. While the universal soil loss equation usle uses rainfall as an indicator of erosive energy, musle uses the amount of runoff to simulate erosion and sediment yield. Usle was governed by five factors include soil erodibility factor k, rainfall and runoff erodibility index r, cropvegetation and management factor c, support practice factor p and slope. Universal soil loss equation and revised universal soil loss equation 9 include any impact either erosion or deposition of the concentrated flow channels that form in the natural swales at the bottom of the roughly planar hillslopes, and certainly did not address classical gullying processes that often occur at steep bound. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 rusle2. Computerizing the algorithms to assist with the calculations. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 rusle2 ag.
Universal soil loss equation di situ bojongsari, depok. It also provides economic information about fuel use and costs for specific crop management systems. The universal soil loss equation usle is widely used to estimate erosion. Since, the factors ls, c and p are dimensionless, hence unit of a is the multiplication of the units of factor r and k, only. It was later refined as the present day universal soil loss equation usle at the national runoff and soil loss data center. The disturbed site is 50 acres in size, with an average gradient of 8% and an average slope length of 500 feet.
It does not predict soil loss resulting from gully erosion. Erosion and sediment yield in swat are estimated of each hru with the modified universal soil loss equation musle developed by wischmeier and smith 1965. Universal soil loss equation usle is the most comprehensive technique available to predict the long term average annual rate of erosion on a field slope. It is the only version of rusle2 to be used for official purp. Average annual soil loss sum of daily soil loss values different formulation from usle and rusle1. Universal soil loss equation usle, originally developed by the usda for agricultural lands and then used throughout the world, was applied in mountainous forest terrain in japan.
A manual entitled use of the revised universal soil loss equation rusle1 mined lands, construction sites, and reclaimed lands is available from the usdioffice of surface mining, reclamation, and regulation that provides information concerning application of rusle1. Soil erosion assessment using gis and revised universal. Nov 30, 2016 this lesson covers the topic of soil erosion using the revised universal soil loss equation rusle. Past, present, and future, sssa special publication 8, 1979. Revised universal soil loss equationrusle the universal soil loss equation usle was first developed in the 1960s by wischmeier and smith of the united states department of agriculture as a field scale model 1. Application of universal soil loss equation usle to. Browning development for and of the universal soil loss equation. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 rusle2 rusle2 is a program used to evaluate potential erosion rates at specific sites as well as guide conservation and erosion control planning. A guide to conservation planning with the revised universal soil loss equation rusle author. About the universal soil loss equation the universal soil loss equation usle is hailed as one of the most significant developments in soil and water conservation in the 20 thcentury. The following soil erosion calculator is a tool to calculate the. Universal soil loss equation is used for estimating soil losses. There are many changes for estimating erosion by water in rusle, the revised universal soil loss equation. Evaluation of c and p factors in universal soil loss.
The slope length and steepness factors were extended for long slope lengths and steep slopes by recalculating the data from available literature in japan and by using data from supplementary erosion experiments. The universal soil loss equation usle is hailed as one of the most significant developments in soil and water conservation in the 20 th century. Universal soil loss equation usle the usle, developed by ars scientists w. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 nrcs.
The equation is written as a r x k x ls x c x p where. Revised universal soil loss equation, version 2 rusle2 official nrcs rusle2 program. Martha mamo, department of agronomy and horticulture, university of nebraskalincoln. Pdf estimation of soil erosion using revised universal. Use of the universal soil loss equation to predict. Universal soil loss equation usle and its revised version, rusle. Usle universal soil loss equation the universal soil loss equation for construction sites excel worksheet was developed by dane county water resource engineering to estimate soil loss from sheet and rill erosion on construction sites. Information inthis circular is basedon agricultural handbook 537 published by thescience and education. Designed as a method to predict average annual soil loss caused by sheet and rill erosion, the usle is often criticized for its lack of applications. Developed to predict longterm average annual soil loss from erosion on uniform cultivated fields in eastern u. Estimating your soil erosion losses with the universal soil. This equation integrates the local rainfall pattern, soil type, topography, crop system and management practices.
Version 2 of the revised universal soil loss equation rusle2 is a new model with new features and capabilities that estimates soil loss, sediment yield, and sediment characteristics from rill and interrill sheet and rill erosion caused by rainfall and its associated overland flow. Estimating your soil erosion losses with the universal. Large groups of people lived together in lowland and hillside landscapes that they had cleared of trees and shrubs to create farmland. Universal soil loss equation and revised universal soil loss equation 9 include any impact either erosion or deposition of the concentrated flow channels that form in the natural swales at the bottom of the roughly planar hillslopes, and certainly did not address classical gullying processes that often occur at.
Erosive forces include raindrop impact and surface runoff from rainfall. These factors are placed in the equation in such a manner that condition of a place like climate, slope of land. Demonstrating effects of management practices on annual soil loss. It is an empirical technology that has been applied around the world to estimate soil erosion by raindrop impact and surface runoff.
Pdf lengthslope factors for the revised universal soil. Revised universal soil loss equation rusle original purpose was for agricultural activities as a result of the dust bowl era certain other adjustments made for construction activities. This equation provides an estimate of the soil loss rate in tonshectareyear. A detail about the equation and its parameters are discussed in detail in this article. One of the most com monly used soil erosion models is the universal soil loss. This site contains the official nrcs version of rusle2. Revised universal soil loss equation version 2 predicting soil erosion by water. Estimation of soil erosion risk using the universal soil.
Rusle is an erosion prediction model that enables conservation planners to predict the longterm average annual. Universal soil loss equation an overview sciencedirect topics. The nrcs developed and maintains the database components on this site. Revised universal soil loss equation rusle the revised universal soil loss equation rusle predicts soil loss from interrill sheet and rill erosion caused by rainfall and associated overland flow. Espanol spanishthe average annual rate of erosion on a field can be predicted with the use of the universal soil loss equation usle. One key parameter for modelling soil erosion is the soil erodibility, expressed as the kfactor in the widely used soil erosion model, the universal soil loss equation usle and its revised. Revised universal soil loss equation journal of soil. The universal soil loss equation usle is a widely used mathematical model that describes soil erosion processes erosion models play critical roles in soil and water resource conservation and nonpoint source pollution assessments, including. Revised universal soil loss equationversion 2 predicting soil erosion by water.