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Second 4

The document discusses two models for estimating soil erosion - the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The USLE estimates soil loss based on rainfall and soil factors, while the RUSLE improves upon the USLE by accounting for additional land use and management factors. The key factors in both models are rainfall (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C), and supporting practices (P). Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating soil loss estimates using the USLE and RUSLE models based on given condition parameters. Additionally, the Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) model for estimating wind erosion is

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rakesh roshan
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78 views12 pages

Second 4

The document discusses two models for estimating soil erosion - the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The USLE estimates soil loss based on rainfall and soil factors, while the RUSLE improves upon the USLE by accounting for additional land use and management factors. The key factors in both models are rainfall (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C), and supporting practices (P). Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating soil loss estimates using the USLE and RUSLE models based on given condition parameters. Additionally, the Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) model for estimating wind erosion is

Uploaded by

rakesh roshan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Estimation of Soil Erosion

It is the detachment, transportation and


deposition of soil mass from one place to another
USLE (1965)
• Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)
• A = R x K x LS x C x P

• RUSLE (1995)
• MUSLE
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation
RUSLE is an upgrade of USLE that is land use
independent. It can be used on cropland,
disturbed forestland, rangeland, construction
sites, mined land, reclaimed land, military
training grounds, landfills, waste disposal sites,
and other lands where rainfall and its
associated overland flow cause soil erosion.
RUSLE was first introduced in the USDA Soil and
Water Conservation Service in 1993.
Differences Between USLE and RUSLE
R Based on long term av. Rainfall Corrected with the raindrop
of a specific area impact
K Based on soil texture, OM, Based on seasonal changes, soil
permeability and other factors moisture and consolidation
inherent to soil type
LS Based on length and steepness Accomodates complex slopes,
regardless of land use new equation, based on rill to
inter rill erosion
C Based on cropping sequence, Uses sub factor : prior land use,
surface residues, canopy cover canopy cover, surface cover,
surface roughness, soil
moisture… Recalculates
P Based on practices that resist Considers amount and location
soil movement… of deposition
Varies with slope range
RUSLE
Equation A = R x K x LS x C x P
• In the RUSLE, the subfactor relationship is given by the
equation: C =PLU *CC *SC*SR
where PLU is the prior land use subfactor, CC is the canopy
subfactor, SC is the surface cover subfactor, and SR is the surface
roughness subfactor.
• To deal with this varied effectiveness in the RUSLE, the
following equation is used:
SC=(b M)
where SC is the mulch or ground cover subfactor value and M is
the percentage of ground cover. The b coefficient is assigned a
value of either 0.025, the value in the present USLE is 0.035.
Calculation of Soil Erosion Using USLE
• Equation A = R x K x LS x C x P
• Equation for Calculation of LS
• LS = [0.065 + 0.0456 (slope) + 0.006541 (slope) 2](slope
length ÷ constant)C
<1 1 ≤ Slope < 3 3 ≤ Slope < 5 ≥5
S
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
C

• Where:
• slope = slope steepness in %
• slope length = length of slope in m
• constant = 22.1 metric
Calculation of Soil Erosion Using USLE
• Suppose R is 100
• K=0.4
• L=244 m
• S= 6%
• C for corn is 0.4 and tillage method factor due to
spring plow is 0.9
• P= 0.75

Calculate the soil loss per ha per year in such condition


Calculation
• Here, R = 100
• K=0.4
• L=244 m
• S= 6% ie, LS=1.91
• C for corn is 0.4 and tillage method factor is 0.9
• C Factor = 0.4 x 0.9 = 0.36
• P= 0.75
• Therefore,
• A = R x K x LS x C x P
• = 100 x 0.40 x 1.91 x 0.36 x 0.75
• = 20.63 tons/hectare/year
Calculation of Soil Erosion Using RUSLE
• Suppose R is 100
• K=0.4
• L=244 m
• S= 6%
• C for corn is 0.4 and Change in tillage method factor
due to spring plow is 0.9 to no till is 0.25
• P= 0.75

Calculate the soil loss per ha per year in such condition


Calculation RUSLE
• Here, R = 100
• K=0.4
• L=244 m
• S= 6% ie, LS=1.91
• C for corn is 0.4 and Change in tillage method factor is 0.9
to no till is 0.25
• Therefore, C Factor (revised) = 0.4 x .25 = 0.10
• P= 0.75
• The adjusted annual soil loss value is
• A = R x K x LS x C x P
• = 100 x 0.40 x 1.91 x 0.10 x 0.75
• = 5.73 tons/hectare/year
Estimation of Wind Erosion
•  The equation for predicting soil loss due to wind in
the Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) is
• E = f(IKCLV)
• The factors in the WEQ equation are defined as
follows:
•  E is the estimation of the average annual soil loss
in tons per ha.
•  I is the soil erodibility index
•  K is the ridge roughness factor.
• C is the climatic factor.
•  L is the unsheltered distance.
•  V is the vegetative cover factor.
• I: It is the potential for soil loss from a wide, level,
unsheltered, isolated field with a bare, smooth, loose and
uncrusted surface. Soil erodibility is based on soil surface
texture, calcium carbonate content, and percent day.
• K:It is a measure of the effect of ridges formed by tillage and 
planting implements on wind erosion. The ridge roughness is
based on ridge spacing, height, and erosive wind directions in
relation to the ridge direction
• C: It is a measure of the erosive potential of the wind speed
and surface moisture at a given location
• L: It is the unsheltered distance across an erodible field,
measured along the prevailing wind erosion direction. This
distance is measured beginning at a stable border on the
upwind side and continuing downward to the nonerodible or
stable area, or to the downwind edge of the area being
evaluated.
• V: It accounts for the kind, amount, and orientation of growing 
plants or plant residue on the soil surface.

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