Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)

The USLE developed in the USA is the most widely used empirical model world-wide for
estimating soil loss (Wischmeier and Smith, 1965). Information from the USLE is used in
planning and designing conservation practices. This model is not strictly based on hydraulic
principles and soil erosion theory. It thus simplifies the processes of soil erosion. The USLE was
specifically intended to predict soil loss from cultivated soils under specific characteristics. It is
based on more than 25 years of research covering 10,000 plot-years of data from natural-runoff
plots and the equivalent of 1000 plot-years of data from field plots using rainfall simulators.
Standard unit plot is defined as 21.13 m (72.6 ft) length of uniform 9 % slope.
It computes soil loss as a product of six major factors, whose values are expressed numerically.
The USLE is represented by
A= R*K*L*S*C*P
Where,
A= Average annual soil loss
R= Rainfall Erosivity
K= Soil Erodibility factor
L= Slope Length factor. It is the ratio of soil loss from the field plot under existing slope length
to that from the 22.1 m slope length under identical conditions.
S= slope gradient factor. It is the ratio of soil loss from the field slope gradient to that from the 9
% slope under identical conditions.
C= Land cover factor or cropping management factor
P= Erosion control practice factor or conservation practice factor
The different factors in the above equation are to be selected to suit the units under
considerations. Extensive experimental evidence is needed to determine these factors. An
explanatory note about each of the factors involved in the above equation is as follows:
Soil loss (A)
The factor A represents soil loss per unit area per unit time. Because L, S, C, and P are
dimensionless, units for A result from the multiplication of R and K in the solution of the USLE.
Units may be chosen for R and K to give units for A in metric tons per hectare. The time unit of
A depends upon the time period of R, which is usually average annual for a calendar year.
Erosivity (R)
The R factor is the sum of individual storm erosivity values, El. The factor E is the total
energy for a storm and I is the storm’s maximum 30-minute intensity. Mathematically, R is
given as
n
∑ (EI ) j
R= j=1

where n is the number of storms in the series.

Soil erodibility (K)

Soil erodibility refers to soil’s susceptibility to erosion. The soil erodibility factor, K, is the rate
of soil loss per unit of R or El for a specified soil as measured on a standard plot, which is a 22.1
m length of uniform 9 % slope continuously in clean-tilled fallow. Therefore, K has a unit of
mass per unit area per erosivity unit. Numerically, its values from 0 to 1.0. the value of K=0
represents the soil to be very hard, which cannot get erode due to rainstrom. Normally the rocks,
stones etc fall under this category. The value of k=1 indicate the soil to be very suceptible to get
edrode due to rainstrom. Very coarse textured soil falls under this category.
The K values can be obtained from a nomograph (Foster et al., 1981) or the following equation:
K= 2.8 x10-7 M1.14 (12-a) +4.3 x 10-3 (b-2) +3.3 x 10-3 (c-3)
M is particle-size parameter = (% silt + % very fine sand) × (100 − %clay),
a = % of soil organic matter content,
b = soil structure code
(1 = very fine granular; 2 = fine granular; 3 = medium or coarse granular; 4 =
blocky, platy, or massive)
c = profile permeability (saturated hydraulic conductivity) class
[1 = rapid (150mmh−1); 2 = moderate to rapid (50–150mmh−1); 3 = moderate
(12-50mmh−1); 4 = slow to moderate (5–15mmh−1); 5 = slow (1–5mmh−1); 6 =
very slow (<1mmh−1)]
The size of soil particles for very fine sand fraction ranges between 0.05 and 0.10mm, for silt
content between 0.002 and 0.05, and clay <0.002mm. The soil organic matter content is
computed as the product of percent organic C and 1.72.