Start / Soil and fertilization / Soil conservation

Soil erosion (USLE/RUSLE)

How much soil rainfall removes per hectare in a year, and the effect of cover and terracing.

Pre-sizing and estimating tool: the results do not replace a design, calculation, or report signed by a qualified professional, nor verification against the applicable standards.

Preliminary estimateRevision 12/11/2026
Climate and soil
Terrain
Management

R, K, C and P should come from tables or measurements for your region and crop. The starting values are for illustration only.

Data stays only in this browser and is not sent. Uncheck to erase it.

—Estimated soil loss
—

Soil loss by cover

Annual loss for different C factors, with the other factors held constant.

Tap the chart to see the values.

Soil loss by slope

Annual loss for different slopes, with the slope length you entered.

Tap the chart to see the values.

What if the data changes?

Drag the controls to simulate data different from what you entered (from 30% less to 30% more) and watch the result change instantly.

Tap the chart to see the values.

Annual loss by slope and slope length

Soil loss (t/ha/year) for combinations of slope and slope length, with the other factors entered. Values marked with an asterisk exceed the tolerable loss.

Step by step with your numbers

The calculation done in steps, with the values you entered.

    The calculation memo gathers this page's inputs, results, equations, assumptions, and references, with fields for project, responsible person, and review. The full report also includes the charts and interpretations, in color. In the print window, choose Save as PDF.

    How to use

    Enter the rainfall erosivity (R), the soil erodibility (K), the slope length and gradient of the land, the cover management (C), and the conservation practices (P). The calculator estimates the annual soil loss and compares it with the tolerable loss.

    Hypothetical example

    R = 7,000 MJ·mm/(ha·h·year), K = 0.03, slope length of 100 m, slope of 6%, C = 0.10 and P = 1.0.

    LS = 1.10 (6% gradient on a 100 m slope). A = 7,000 × 0.03 × 1.10 × 0.10 × 1.0 = 23.1 t/ha/year.

    With a tolerable loss of 10 t/ha/year, the example is above the limit: cover or practices need to improve.

    Precautions

    • The USLE estimates sheet and rill erosion as a long-term average. It does not represent a single extreme rain event.
    • Does not include gullies or channel erosion.
    • The R, K, C and P values have the biggest effect on the result: use local data whenever available.

    Method, assumptions, and references

    Equations used

    A = R × K × LS × C × P (USLE/RUSLE)
    LS = (λ ÷ 22.13)^m × (65.41 sin²θ + 4.56 sin θ + 0.065), with θ the slope angle
    m = β ÷ (1 + β), with β = (sin θ ÷ 0.0896) ÷ (3 sin^0.8 θ + 0.56) (McCool et al., 1987)

    Assumptions and limits

    • Sheet and rill erosion; does not include gullies or channel erosion.
    • The factors are long-term averages; an extreme event can lose much more soil than the annual average.
    • The R, K, C and P values should be those for your region and crop; the starting values are illustrative.

    Standards and technical documents

    • Wischmeier, W. H.; Smith, D. D. Predicting rainfall erosion losses: a guide to conservation planning. USDA Agriculture Handbook 537. Washington: USDA, 1978.
    • Renard, K. G. et al. Predicting soil erosion by water: a guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). USDA Agriculture Handbook 703. Washington: USDA, 1997.
    • McCool, D. K. et al. Revised slope steepness factor for the Universal Soil Loss Equation. Transactions of the ASAE, v. 30, n. 5, 1987.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the tolerable loss?

    It depends on the soil and the effective depth. Brazilian studies often use reference values between 5 and 12 t/ha/year; confirm the value with the local technician.

    How do practices enter the calculation?

    From the P factor (contour planting, terraces and vegetation strips), with tabulated values. Well-applied practices reduce P and, so, the loss.