Table 1: Cover factor (C*) for pasture

Vegetation Soil
Cover (%) Loss (in proportion to loss from bare soil)
0 1.0
10 0.33
20 0.20
30 0.15
40 0.10
50 0.07
60 0.042
70 0.024
80 0.013
90 0.008
100 0.003

Table 2: Cover factor (C*) due to tree and shrub canopies of different heights
(soil loss as proportion to loss from bare ground)

Ground cover by Average fall height of drops

Canopy (%) 4m 2m 1m 0.5 m
0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
10 0.97 0.95 0.93 0.92
20 0.95 0.90 0.86 0.83
30 0.92 0.85 0.79 0.75
40 0.89 0.80 0.72 0.66
50 0.87 0.75 0.65 0.58
60 0.84 0.70 0.58 0.50
70 0.81 0.65 0.51 0.41
80 0.78 0.60 0.44 0.33
90 0.76 0.55 0.37 0.24
100 0.73 0.50 0.30 0.16

Source: Derived from Wischmeier and Smith (1978).

Table 3 Cover factor (C ) for undisturbed humid forest with litter layer at
least 50 mm thick

Area covered by canopy of Area covered by at least Soil Loss

trees and undergrowth 50 mm of litter (in proportion to loss
(%) (%) from bare ground)
 100 100 0.0001
75 90 0.001
50 75 0.003
20 40 0.009

Source: Adapted from Wischmeier and Smith (1978).

Table 4. K Factor Data

K Factor
tonnes/hectare (tons/acre)
Average Less than 2% More than 2%
Textural Class OMC* OMC OMC
Clay 0.49 (0.22) 0.54 (0.24) 0.47 (0.21)
Clay loam 0.67 (0.30) 0.74 (0.33) 0.63 (0.28)
Coarse sandy loam 0.16 (0.07) – 0.16 (0.07)
Fine sand 0.18 (0.08) 0.20 (0.09) 0.13 (0.06)
Fine sandy loam 0.40 (0.18) 0.49 (0.22) 0.38 (0.17)
Heavy clay 0.38 (0.17) 0.43 (0.19) 0.34 (0.15)
Loam 0.67 (0.30) 0.76 (0.34) 0.58 (0.26)
Loamy fine sand 0.25 (0.11) 0.34 (0.15) 0.20 (0.09)
Loamy sand 0.09 (0.04) 0.11 (0.05) 0.09 (0.04)
Loamy very fine 0.87 (0.39) 0.99 (0.44) 0.56 (0.25)
sand
Sand 0.04 (0.02) 0.07 (0.03) 0.02 (0.01)
Sandy clay loam 0.45 (0.20) – 0.45 (0.20)
Sandy loam 0.29 (0.13) 0.31 (0.14) 0.27 (0.12)
Silt loam 0.85 (0.38) 0.92 (0.41) 0.83 (0.37)
Silty clay 0.58 (0.26) 0.61 (0.27) 0.58 (0.26)
Silty clay loam 0.72 (0.32) 0.79 (0.35) 0.67 (0.30)
Very fine sand 0.96 (0.43) 1.03 (0.46) 0.83 (0.37)
Very fine sandy 0.79 (0.35) 0.92 (0.41) 0.74 (0.33)
loam
* Organic matter content

Table 5: LS Factor

Slope Length: m (ft) Slope (%) LS Factor

30.5 (100) 10 1.38

8 1.00

6 0.67

5 0.54

4 0.40

3 0.30

2 0.20

1 0.13

0 0.07

61 (200) 10 1.95

8 1.41

6 0.95

5 0.76

4 0.53

3 0.39

2 0.25
 1 0.16

0 0.08

122 (400) 10 2.76

8 1.99

6 1.35

5 1.07

4 0.70

3 0.52

2 0.30

1 0.20

0 0.09

244 (800) 10 3.90

8 2.82

6 1.91

5 1.52

4 0.92

3 0.68

2 0.37

1 0.24
 0 0.11

488 (1,600) 10 5.52

8 3.99

6 2.70

5 2.15

4 1.21

3 0.90

2 0.46

1 0.30

0 0.12

975 (3,200) 10 7.81

8 5.64

6 3.81

5 3.03

4 1.60

3 1.19

2 0.57

1 0.36

0 0.14
LS Factor Calculation

Equation for Calculation of LS (if Not Using Table 5)

LS = [0.065 + 0.0456 (slope) + 0.006541 (slope)2](slope length ÷ constant)NN

Where:

slope = slope steepness in %

slope length = length of slope in m (ft)

constant = 22.1 metric (72.5 Imperial)

Table 6: NN values

S <1 1 ≤ Slope < 3 3 ≤ Slope < 5 ≥5

NN 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5

Fig. 1: LS Factor

Table 7: Crop Type Factor

Crop Type Factor

Grain corn 0.40
Silage corn, beans & canola 0.50
Cereals (spring & winter) 0.35
Seasonal horticultural crops 0.50
Fruit trees 0.10
Hay and pasture 0.02
Table 8: Tillage Method Factor
Tillage Method Factor
Fall plow 1.0
Spring plow 0.90
Mulch tillage 0.60
Ridge tillage 0.35
Zone tillage 0.25
No-till 0.25

Table 9: P Factor Data

Support Practice P Factor
Up & down slope 1.0
Cross slope 0.75
Contour farming 0.50
Strip cropping, cross slope 0.37
Strip cropping, contour 0.25

Table 10:. Soil Loss Tolerance Rates

Soil Erosion Class Potential Soil Losstonnes/hectare/year (tons/acre/year)
Very low (tolerable) <6.7 (3)
Low 6.7 (3)–11.2 (5)
Moderate 11.2 (5)–22.4 (10)
High 22.4 (10)–33.6 (15)
Severe >33.6 (15)

Table 11:. Management Strategies to Reduce Soil Losses

Facto
r Management Strategies Example
R The R Factor for a field cannot be –
altered.
K The K Factor for a field cannot be –
altered.
LS Terraces may be constructed to Terracing requires additional investment
reduce the slope length resulting in and will cause some inconvenience in
lower soil losses. farming. Investigate other soil
conservation practices first.
C The selection of crop types and Consider cropping systems that will
tillage methods that result in the provide maximum protection for the soil.
lowest possible C factor will result in Use minimum tillage systems where
less soil erosion. possible.
P The selection of a support practice Use support practices such as cross-slope
that has the lowest possible factor farming that will cause deposition of
associated with it will result in lower sediment to occur close to the source.
soil losses.