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RUSLE

R: Rainfall Erosivity : Realistically it is only possible to get annual rainfall amount for an area and the corresponding estimate of R value is given. A formula adapted for Ethiopian conditions is R = 0.55P – 4.7. K factor is prepared to be estimated based on soil colour: Black = 0.15, Brown = 0.20, Red = 0.25, Yellow = 0.30. The slope length factor L is a ratio comparing soil loss from a slope length L to 22m, calculated as L=(l/22)m, where m is 0.2-0.5 depending on slope. The slope steepness factor S is a ratio comparing soil loss from a given

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39 views3 pages

RUSLE

R: Rainfall Erosivity : Realistically it is only possible to get annual rainfall amount for an area and the corresponding estimate of R value is given. A formula adapted for Ethiopian conditions is R = 0.55P – 4.7. K factor is prepared to be estimated based on soil colour: Black = 0.15, Brown = 0.20, Red = 0.25, Yellow = 0.30. The slope length factor L is a ratio comparing soil loss from a slope length L to 22m, calculated as L=(l/22)m, where m is 0.2-0.5 depending on slope. The slope steepness factor S is a ratio comparing soil loss from a given

Uploaded by

Lidya Lencha
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© © All Rights Reserved
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R ADAPTED FOR ETHIOPIAN CONDITIONS

R: Rainfall Erosivity : Realistically it is only possible to get annual rainfall

amount for an area and the corresponding estimate of R value is given.

Annual Rainfall (mm)100 200 400 800 1200 1600 2000 2400

Annual factor, R 48 104 217 441 666 890 1115 1340

R = 0.55P – 4.7 is a formula adapted for Ethiopian conditions

Soil erodibility K

RUSLE’s soil erodibility factor K, which takes into account only soil texture and (OM) content, is often
used.

• Soil texture: determines to large extent the physical and chemical behavior of a soil

Pore space- Influence Infiltration

Size (large particles resistant to erosion, finer particles are cohesive)

• Soil structure influence

- aggregate size and stability, thus large and stable aggregates are difficult to erosion

- influence the size and shape of soil pores thus movement and storage of water

• Organic matter content:

-act as a cementing agent, improve structure and bulk density

source of nutrients, improve productivity

• Permeability

decide the runoff production

K=2.8*10-7M1.14 (12-a) + 4.3*10-3 (b-2) + 3.3*10-3 (c-3)…

• K=soil erodibility factor (t MJ_1mm_1);


• M=particle size parameter [(%silt + %VFS)(100 - %clay)];
• A=organic matter (%);
• B=soil structure code (very fine granular=1; fine granular=2; medium or coarse granular=3;
blocky, platy or massive=4);and
• C=profile permeability class (rapid=1; moderate to rapid=2; moderate=3; slow to moderate=4
slow=5 and very slow=6).
K ADAPTED FOR ETHIOPIAN CONDITIONS

This factor is prepared to be estimated based on the soil colour.

Soil Colour Black Brown Red Yellow

K factor 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30

The slope length factor L

Slope length defines as the distance from the point of origin of overland flow to either a depositional
area (flat land, forest, strong plot boundary, terrace) or to a waterway which evacuates the runoff.

A ratio which compares the soil loss with that from a field with a specified length of 22.6 m

Can be obtained applying the classic equation

• Slope length factor is the ratio of soil loss from a slope length L (m) to the soil loss from 22 m
long in the same condition

L= (l/22)m

l is the length of the slope in m

The exponent m represents the rill: interrill ratio varies according to slope steepness

m = 0.5 if slope >= 5%

m = 0.4 if slope <= 5% and > 3%

m = 0.3 if slope <= 3 % and >= 1%, and

m = 0.2 if slope < 1%

Slope steepness factor S

A ratio which compares the soil loss with that from a field with a specified slope of 9%

This equation is however only valid for slopes less than 22%.

The equation

S = (0.065) + (0.045s) +(0.0065s2)


Where S is the steepness factor
S is the actual slope in percent
• Combining LS
• LS=(l/22)m (0.065)+(0.045s)+(0.0065s2 )
LS ADAPTED FOR ETHIOPIAN CONDITIONS

LENGTH (m) 5 10 20 40 80 160 240 320

FACTOR L 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.4 1.9 2.7 3.2 3.8

Slope (%) 5 10 15 20 30 40 50 60

Factor S 0.4 1.0 1.6 2.2 3.0 3.8 4.3 4.8

Cover-management factor C

A ratio which compares the soil loss with that from a fallow land. It includes the effects of cover, crop
sequence, density, length of growing season, tillage practices, residue management and timing with
regard to periods of erosive rain

C value

Dense forest: 0.001 Dense grass: 0.01


Other forest: SEE GRASS Degraded grass: 0.05
Sorghum, maize: 0.10 Ethiopian Teff: 0.25
Cereals, Pulses: 0.15 Continuous fallow: 1.00
Badlands Hard: 0.05 Fallow Hard: 0.05
Badlands Soft: 0.40 Fallow Ploughed: 0.60
SOIL LOSS TOLERANCE, T

2 – 16 t/ha/yr (Eth)

P value

Ploughing up & down: 1.00 Ploughing on contour: 0.90


Strip cropping; 0.80 Intercropping 0.80
Applying mulch: 0.60 Dense intercropping: 0.70
Stone cover 80%: 0.50 Stone cover 40% 0.80

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