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Chapter 2

Soil loss is the removal of topsoil due to erosion, which significantly affects crop yield. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is an empirical model used to estimate soil erosion, incorporating factors like rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length, crop management, and conservation practices. This estimation aids in predicting soil loss, selecting agricultural practices, and recommending crop management strategies.

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6 views20 pages

Chapter 2

Soil loss is the removal of topsoil due to erosion, which significantly affects crop yield. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is an empirical model used to estimate soil erosion, incorporating factors like rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length, crop management, and conservation practices. This estimation aids in predicting soil loss, selecting agricultural practices, and recommending crop management strategies.

Uploaded by

Hussen Mohammed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOIL LOSS SETIMATION

Soil Loss Estimation

• Usually soil loss is defined as

“The removal of upper most top soil(~30cm) by the


action of erosion agents(water and wind)”
• Soil losses vary considerably with the type of
erosion.
• Impact of soil erosion can be seen effect of top
soil depth on crop yield
Soil Loss Estimation
How do we Estimate the soil loss
mainly from Agricultural watershed?
Universal Soil Loss Equation
(USLE)
Soil Loss Estimation
 USLE is an empirical model that describes soil erosion processes

 It was developed in the U.S. based on soil erosion data collected


beginning in the 1930s by the USDA.
• It helps in

Prediction soil/sediment/ losses.


Identifying type of conservation measures.
Identifying “hotspots” of erosion.
• Despite its simplification it is most widely used method of
estimating sediment loss.
Soil Loss Estimation

• Wischmeier in1965 developed model to estimate


average annual soil loss using equation:
A = R.K.LS.C.P
Where:-
A = the annual soil loss,
R = the rainfall erosivity factor,
K = the soil erodibility factor
L = the slope length factor
C = the cropping management factor, and
P = the erosion control practice factor
Soil Loss Estimation
Rainfall factor(rainfall erosivity index)(R):
Refers the ability of the soil to erode the soil particle from
the field.
• Field observations it was found that R is product of
Kinetic energy of storm and 30 minute max. intensity.
• This Product shows Interaction of Rainfall and Runoff
to dislodge the soil particles &
consequently to transport it.
The product is termed as EI or Rainfall erosivity.
• It can be estimated using Rainfall simulators or Rainulators
Soil Loss Estimation
Kinetic energy of the rainfall:

KE=916+331log10I
Where , I = stands for the rainfall intensity (inch/hr.)

The erosivity can also be computed for individual


daily storm and added altogether to get

the weekly, monthly or annual erosivity value


Soil Loss Estimation
Soil erodibility factor(K):
• It shows the capability of the soil being eroded by the
incoming erosive agent.
• Soil properties affect it
Soil permeability,
Infiltration rate,
Soil texture,
Size and soil depth etc.
• Expressed as tones of soil loss per hectare per unit rainfall
erosivity index from the field of 9% slope and 22 meters
field length.
Soil Loss Estimation
• Determined by considering the soil loss from
continuous cultivated fallow land without the
influence of crop cover or management.
• Can be determined for particular location,
Using a set of run-off plots of above specification
(i.e. 9% slope and 22m length)and measuring the loss along time
and using the eqn.:
K= Ao /(S.(ΣEI)
Where
K= Soil erodibility factor , Ao =Observed soil loss(direct
measurement) , S=Slope factor , ΣEI= total rainfall erosivity index
Soil Loss Estimation
Length and steepness of slope Factor(LS):
• The slope length has a direct relation with the soil loss.
• Steepness of land slope always influences the soil erosion in
several ways.
For instance in relation to the velocity of runoff.
• Generally as the steepness of slope increases:
Soil erosion increases
Velocity of runoff increase
More soil detachment and transportation
Surface detention of water decreases
Soil Loss Estimation
• Length and steepness of slope factor S combined together termed as

topographic factor.

• Can be calculated as:


L 2
LS  (0.76  0.53S  0.76 S )
100

Where
L=slope length(ft)
S=percent slope.
Soil Loss Estimation
Crop management Factor(C)
• It show ratio of soil loss from cropped under specific crop to
a continuous fallow land (provided that the soil type).
• The crop and cropping practices affect the soil erosion in
many ways by their features such as kind of crop ,quality of
cover , root growth.
• These features vary from planting to the crop harvesting in
turn the soil loss gets affected.
• All related factors, erosion-control effectiveness of each crop is
Soil Loss Estimation

Period F:Rough fallow


 include summer ploughing or seed bed preparation.
Period 1:Seed bed
 refer period from seeding 1 month thereafter
Period 2:Establishment
 refer period from 1 month to 2 months
Period 3:Growing period
 refer period from 1 month to harvesting.
Period4:Residue or stubble
 refer period from harvesting to summer ploughing or
new seed bed preparation
.
Soil Loss Estimation
Conservation practice factor (P)
Defined as ratio of soil loss from a given
conservation practice to the soil loss
obtained from up and down slope farming.
.
Soil Loss Estimation
Application of soil loss estimation:
1. Predicts soil loss.
2. Help to select agricultural practice.
3. Recommend on crop management practice

 Erosion is a function of erosivity and


erodibility
E = f(Erosivity) (Erodibility)

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