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Erosion Rate (USLE) Calculator

Work out erosion rate (usle) instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Erosion Rate (USLE) Calculator

The Universal Soil Loss Equation multiplies five factors: A = R K LS C P. With R = 90, K = 0.35, LS = 1.4 and combined CP = 0.25, annual loss is 11 t/ha - well above the 1-2 t/ha usually considered tolerable, and equivalent to about 0.8 mm of topsoil a year. Cover is the factor land managers can actually change.

Formulas

Universal Soil Loss Equation

A = R x K x LS x C x P

Depth equivalent

mm = tonnes per hectare / (bulk density x 10)

Worked example

With the default values below, Erosion Rate (USLE) Calculator returns Annual Soil Loss of 11.025. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Rainfall erosivity Rminimum 0
90
Soil erodibility Kminimum 0
0.35
Slope length and steepness LSminimum 0
1.4
Cover and practice CPaccepts 0–1
0.25

Results

Annual Soil Loss
11.025 t/ha
Same Loss Per Hectare
11.025 t
Equivalent Depth Of Soil Lost
0.8167 mm/yr
Against Tolerable Loss
Well above tolerable - erosion control needed

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Universal Soil Loss Equation
  3. 3Depth equivalent
  4. 4Annual Soil Loss= 11.025 t/ha
  5. 5Same Loss Per Hectare= 11.025 t
  6. 6Equivalent Depth Of Soil Lost= 0.8167 mm/yr
  7. 7Against Tolerable Loss= Well above tolerable - erosion control needed

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 4 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which factor is most controllable?

The cover and practice factors. Residue retention, contour cultivation and terracing can cut loss by an order of magnitude.

What loss is tolerable?

Around 1 t/ha/yr on thin soils and up to 5-11 t/ha/yr on deep ones, judged against natural soil formation rates.

Related Calculators

Erosion Rate (USLE) Calculator – Calculate Annual Soil Loss