Conversion of the universal soil loss equation to SI metric units

G. R. Foster; D. K. McCool; K. G. Renard; W. C. Moldenhauer

ABSTRACT:

The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is widely used to estimate erosion in the United States and foreign countries. With foreign application of the USLE and adoption of the International System of Units (SI) in the United States, conversion of the USLE to SI units is necessary. Conversion factors were derived by considering the dimensions of each variable of the USLE factors. These conversion factors may be used to convert USLE factor values given in U.S. customary units to SI units. However, when basic data for the USLE factors are already in SI units, values for the USLE factors can be computed directy in SI units without conversion from U.S. customary units.

Footnotes

G. R. Foster is a hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an associate professor in the Agricultural Engineering Department, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907. D. K. McCool is an agricultural engineer with USDA and an associate agricultural engineer at Washington State University, Pullman 99134. K. G. Renard is a hydraulic engineer with USDA in Tucson. Arizona 85705. W. C. Moldenhauer is a soil scientist with USDA and a professor in the Agronomy Department at Purdue University. This paper is a contribution from the Agricultural Research Service, USDA, in cooperation with the Purdue University Agricultural Experiment Station, and the College of Agricultural Research Center. Washington State University. Purdue Journal No. 8191. Washington State University Scientific Paper No. SP 5871.
Copyright 1981 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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