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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167813
Title: THE REVISED UNIVERSAL SOIL LOSS EQUATION, VERSION 2

Author
item McCool, Donald
item Foster, GEORGE - USDA-ARS-SPA (RETIRED)
item Daniel, YODER - University of Tennessee

Submitted to: International Soil Conservation Organization Conference Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2004
Publication Date: 11/30/2004
Citation: McCool, D.K., Foster, G.R., Daniel, Y.C. 2004. The revised universal soil loss equation, version 2. 13th International Soil Conservation Organization Conference, Brisbane, Australia, July, 4-8, 2004.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Version 2 of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2), the second generation of RUSLE, estimates soil loss, sediment yield, and sediment characteristics from rill and interrill erosion caused by rainfall and associated overland flow. RUSLE2 uses factors that represent the effects of climatic erosivity, topography, cover-management, and support practices to compute erosion. Like other models, it uses a system of equations implemented in a computer program to compute erosion. RUSLE2 database and its rules and procedures are used to describe a site-specific condition. RUSLE2 can be used to guide conservation planning, inventory erosion rates over large areas, and estimate sediment production on upland areas that might become sediment yield in watersheds. It can be used on cropland, pastureland, rangeland, disturbed forestland, construction sites, mined land, reclaimed land, landfills, military lands, and other areas where mineral soil is exposed to raindrop impact and surface overland flow produced by rainfall intensity that exceeds infiltration rate Hortonian overland flow). RUSLE2 is a new model with new capabilities and features. It is much more powerful, has improved computational procedures, and provides more output useful for conservation planning than does RUSLE1. It uses a modern graphical user interface and can operate in either US customary or SI units.