PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - R. J. Loch AU - C. Pocknee TI - Effects of aggregation on soil erodibility: Australian experience DP - 1995 Sep 01 TA - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation PG - 504--506 VI - 50 IP - 5 4099 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/50/5/504.short 4100 - http://www.jswconline.org/content/50/5/504.full AB - A method for estimating the erodibility (K) factor for the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation with particular application to aggregated clay soils is reviewed. Based on the proportion of particles (aggregates and disaggregated material) < 0.125 mm at the soil surface under rain together with the wet density of sediment, the approach gives better estimation of K factors for aggregated clay soils than does the nomograph of Wischmeier et al.(1971). One problem with a nomograph approach is that there is no indication from the nomograph of a particular soil: likely sensitivity to slope length, which is needed for selection of appropriate LS (slope length and steepness factor) tables when using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. Also, the new approach may not apply for soils showing particularly strong disaggregation on wetting. Examples are given for dispersive soils, on which detachment by overland flow is (at least under some conditions) reduced by very stable suface seals.