Application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation to Rangelands on a Per-Storm Basis

Abstract

The Universal Soil Loss Equation was evaluated in rangeland conditions on a per-storm basis utilizing rainfall simulator data collected on 2,805 plots representing a variety of conditions in the western United States and Australia. The popular agriculturally oriented equation explained sediment yield with a low degree of accuracy for most rangeland conditions. The equation gave its most accurate predictions on mining spoils. Optimizing the equation with suitable exponents resulted in only a slight improvement in accounting for the variability in sediment yields.