Home
Back
Soil Erodibility Factor Formula:
| From: | To: |
The Soil Erodibility Factor is the intrinsic susceptibility of a soil to erosion by runoff and raindrop impact. It quantifies how easily soil particles can be detached and transported by erosive forces.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates soil erodibility by relating the amount of suspended sediment to stream discharge raised to a power constant.
Details: Accurate estimation of soil erodibility is crucial for soil conservation planning, erosion prediction models, and implementing effective erosion control measures in agricultural and construction sites.
Tips: Enter suspended sediment load in kg/s, stream discharge in m³/s, and the constant n value. All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is a typical range for soil erodibility factor?
A: Soil erodibility values typically range from 0.02 to 0.75, with higher values indicating more erodible soils.
Q2: How is suspended sediment load measured?
A: Suspended sediment load is typically measured through water sampling and filtration methods, or using turbidity sensors that correlate turbidity with sediment concentration.
Q3: What factors influence the constant n value?
A: The constant n depends on catchment characteristics including soil type, vegetation cover, topography, and rainfall intensity patterns.
Q4: When is this calculation most useful?
A: This calculation is particularly useful in watershed management, agricultural planning, and environmental impact assessments where soil erosion needs to be quantified.
Q5: Are there limitations to this equation?
A: The equation assumes steady-state conditions and may not accurately represent situations with rapidly changing flow conditions or highly variable sediment loads.