How do you calculate LS factor?

The equations for calculating LS in the RUSLE are:(1) LS = L ⋅ S (2) L = λ / 22.13 m (3) m = β / 1 + β (4) β = sin θ / 3 ⋅ sin θ 0.8 + 0.56 (5) S = 10.8 ⋅ sin θ + 0.03 θ < 9 % S = 16.8 ⋅ sin θ − 0.5 θ ≥ 9 % where λ is the slope length (m), m is a variable length-slope exponent, β is a factor that varies with slope …

What factors are used for RUSLE?

The RUSLE depends only on five factors, i.e., rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C), and support practice (P); thus, there is potential for neglect of some other more important elements that influence local soil erosion, such as slope pattern, lithology, and …

What is the difference between USLE and RUSLE?

RUSLE also captures better than USLE that long rains can saturate the soil, leading to reduced intake and greater erosional runoff. In contrast with USLE, RUSLE can handle converging and diverging terrain and considers areas with net sedimentation.

What is RUSLE model?

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is an empirical erosion model recognised as a standard method to calculate the average risk of erosion on arable land. The results of the RUSLE model can also be coupled with the SITE land use model.

What are 2 causes of soil loss?

The agents of soil erosion are the same as of other types of erosion: water, ice, wind, and gravity. Soil erosion is more likely where the ground has been disturbed by agriculture, grazing animals, logging, mining, construction, and recreational activities.

What is the C factor in Usle?

The C factor is a ratio comparing the soil loss from land under a specific crop and management system to the corresponding loss from continuously fallow and tilled land.

How do you calculate Rusle?

RUSLE maintains the same empirically based equation as USLE to compute sheet and rill erosion as follows: A=RKLSCP where A is computed soil loss, R is the rainfall-runoff erosivity factor, K is a soil erodibility factor, L is the slope length factor, S is the slope steepness factor, C is a cover management factor, and …

What happens if terrace spacing is too less?

Terrace spacing is decreased where rainfall amount and intensity are high and where the soil has a low infiltration rate, both of which produce high runoff rates. High runoff rates and steep slopes increase runoff erosivity and the potential for rill erosion.

What is the limitation of USLE?

We investigate some of the limitations of existing (R)USLE formulations, such as uncertainty issues given the simple empirical nature of the model and many of its sub-components; uncertainty issues around data availability; and its inability to account for soil loss from gully erosion, mass wasting events, or …

How is USLE calculated?

The Universal Soil Loss Equation, or USLE, predicts the average annual soil loss “A” per unit area. The equation is A = R x K x L x S x C x P and multiplies various factors to arrive at the annual erosion rate.

What are the types of soil erosion?

According to Al-Kaisi from Iowa State University, there are 5 main types of natural soil erosion:

Sheet erosion by water;
Wind erosion;
Rill erosion – happens with heavy rains and usually creates smalls rills over hillsides;
Gully erosion – when water runoff removes soil along drainage lines.

What are the 5 effects of soil erosion?

Some of the greatest effects of soil erosion include:

Loss of Topsoil. Obviously, this is the biggest effect of soil erosion.
Soil Compaction.
Reduced Organic and Fertile Matter.
Poor Drainage.
Issues With Plant Reproduction.
Soil Acidity Levels.
Long Term Erosion.
Water Pollution.

How does the LS factor work in erosion?

LS factors = the slope length factor L computes the effect of slope length on erosion and the slope steepness factor S computes the effect of slope steepness on erosion. Values of both L and S equal 1 for the unit plot conditions of 72.6 ft. length and 9 percent steepness.

How long should the slope of a RUSLE be?

Slope lengths usually do not exceed 400 ft. Slope lengths longer than 1000 ft should not be used in RUSLE because the reliability of RUSLE at these long slope lengths is questionable, and flow becomes concentrated on most landscapes before such long slope lengths.

How are slope steepness and LS factors related?

L factor and S factor are usually considered together. LS factors = the slope length factor L computes the effect of slope length on erosion and the slope steepness factor S computes the effect of slope steepness on erosion. Values of both L and S equal 1 for the unit plot conditions of 72.6 ft. length and 9 percent steepness.

Where does deposition end on a RUSLE slope?

The main areas of deposition that end RUSLE slope length are at the base of concave slopes. If no signs of deposition are present, the user will have to visualize where deposition occurs. The slope-ending depositional area on a concave slope is usually below where the slope begins to flatten.

How do you calculate LS factor?