The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), has been the workhorse of erosion prediction and conservation planning technology in the U. S. and even worldwide. In 1985, at a meeting of U. S. Department of Agriculture and other erosion researchers, it was decided that the USLE should be revised to incorporate additional research and technology developed after the 1978 USLE handbook. The R-factor represents the input that drives the sheet and rill erosion processes. The K-factor is a measure of the inherent erodibility of a given soil under the standard condition of the unit USLE plot maintained in continuous fallow. More questions and concerns are expressed over the L-factor than any of the other USLE factors. The C-factor is perhaps the most important USLE/ Revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) factor because it represents conditions that can most easily be managed to reduce erosion. RUSLE P-factors are treated as the product of subfactors computed based on practices applied to the landscape.