All Issue

2025 Vol.67, Issue 5 Preview Page
A Study to Determine Soil Erodibility Factor in Nationwide Soil Erosion Estimation

전국토를 대상으로 하는 토양유실 예측에서의 토양침식성인자 정의에 관한 연구

Jong-Yoon Parka
,
Yongchul Shinb
,
Youn Shik Parkcd†
박 종윤a
,
신 용철b
,
박 윤식cd†
aSenior Research Fellow, Department of Planning and Strategy, Korea Environment Institute
bAssociate Professor, Department of Agricultural Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University
cProfessor, Department of Regional Construction Engineering, Kongju National University
d Researcher, Industrial Development Institute, Kongju National University
†Corresponding author Tel.: +82-41-330-1267 E-mail: park397@kongju.ac.kr
2025. pp. 53-60
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Soil erosion is a phenomenon that causes the loss of fertile soil in agricultural land and the decrease in the stability of social infrastructures, threatening the sustainability of land and ecosystems. Thus, there is a need to prevent soil erosion, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is often used to estimate soil erosion as a fundamental process in soil erosion management. USLE has five factors, the soil erodibility factor (USLE K) is to represent soil property against rainfall condition causing soil erosion. In South Korea, the Ministry of Environment regulates soil erosion with the Public Notice on the Current Topsoil Erosion that is based on USLE, however the USLE K provided in the public notice needs to be updated since the soil category doesn’t correspond to the current soil map. Therefore, several USLE K equations were investigated, and USLE K values were evaluated and compared to define acceptable approachfor USLE K updates in the public notice. A specific method was suggested to update the USLE K, and it is expected that USLE K can be employed for the public notice in current status. Moreover, USLE K values can be updated with soil property updates in the future if the equation and approach are applied.

Keywords
Potential soil loss
soil erodibility factor
soil erosion
Universal Soil Loss Equation
References

REFERENCES

1
R Benavidez, B. Jackson, D. Maxwell and K. Norton, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, A review of the (Revised) Universal Soil Loss Equation ((R) USLE): With a view to increasing its global applicability and improving soil loss estimates, 22(11); 6059-6086 (2018)10.5194/hess-22-6059-2018
2
S. A. El-Swaify, E. W. Dangler and G. R. Foster, In: Soil Erosion Prediction and ControlErodibilities of selected tropical soils in relation to structural and hydrologic parameters, Ankeny, IA, USA; 105-114 (1976)
3
L Hui, C. Xiaoling, K. J. Lim, C. Xiaobin and M. Sagong, Journal of Earth Science, Assessment of soil erosion and sediment yield in Liao watershed, Jiangxi Province, China, Using USLE, GIS, and RS, 21(6); 941-953 (2010)10.1007/s12583-010-0147-4
4
B. K. Hyun, S. J. Jung, Y. K. Sonn, S. K. Rim and K. C. Song, In Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association ConferenceSoil classification by soil taxonomy and soil properties of Korea, Pyeongchang Gangwon-do; 84-88 (2007)
5
S Jemai, A. Kallel, B. Agoubi and H. Abida, Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Soil erosion estimation in arid area by USLE model applying GIS and RS: Case of Oued El Hamma catchment, south-eastern Tunisia, 49(6); 1293-1305 (2021)10.1007/s12524-021-01320-x
6
S. Jomaa, D. A. Barry, A. Brovelli, G. C. Sander, J. Y. Parlange, B. C. Heng and H. J. Tromp-van Meerveld, Journal of Hydrology, Effect of raindrop splash and transversal width on soil erosion: laboratory flume experiments and analysis with the Hairsine–Rose model, 395(1–2); 117-132 (2010)10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.10.021
7
J Kim, J. U. J, G. G. Seong, S. S. Cha and Y. S. Park, Journal of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers, A study to determine the rainfall erosivity factor of Universal Soil Loss Equation using recent rainfall data, 60(6); 13-20, (in Korean) (2018)10.5389/KSAE.2018.60.6.013
8
Ministry of Environment, Announcement on Investigation of Erosion Status of Topsoil, (in Korean) (2012)
9
Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Guidelines for consultation on disaster impact assessment, (in Korean) (2025)
10
National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (NIAST), Korea, Methods of soil chemical analysis, (in Korean), National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA. (2010)
11
Y. S. Park, J. Y. Park, W. S. Jang and J. Kim, Journal of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers, A study to determine the slope length and steepness factor of Universal Soil Loss Equation with determining and adapting major slope length at field scale, 61(6); 55-65, (in Korean) (2019)10.5389/KSAE.2019.61.6.055
12
Public Data Portal, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, , http://https://www.data.go.kr/data/15067775/fileData.do (2025-May-12)
13
K. G. Renard, G. R. Foster, G. A. Weesies, D. K. McCool and D. C. Yoder, Agricultural HandbookPredicting soil erosion by water: A guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (1997)10.1201/9780203739358-5
14
F Shabani, L. Kumar and A. Esmaeili, Geomorphology, Improvement to the prediction of the USLE K factor, 204; 229-234 (2014)10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.08.008
15
USDA, Soil Survey Division Staff; Soil Conservation ServiceSoil Survey Manual; 125, Handbook 18, Chapter 3, U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2017)
16
A. R. Vaezi, S. H. Sadeghi, H. A. Bahrami and M. Mahdian, Geomorphology, Modeling the USLE K-factor for calcareous soils in northwestern Iran, 97; 414-423 (2008)10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.08.017
17
G. J. Wall, D. R. Coote, E. A. Pringle and I. J. Shelton, Research Branch, RUSLEFAC - Revised universal soil loss equation for application in Canada: A handbook for estimating soil loss from water erosion in Canada; 58, Ottawa, Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. (2002)
18
R. J. Williams and K. G. Renard, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, EPIC: A new method for assessing erosions effect on soil productivity, 38(5); 381-383 (1983)10.1080/00224561.1983.12436327
19
W. H. Wischmeier and D. D. Smith, Predicting rainfall erosion losses: A guide to conservation planning Handbook, U.S. Department of Agriculture. (1978)10.1029/TR039i002p00285
20
W. H. Wischmeier and J. V. Mannering, Soil Science Society of America Journal, Relation of soil properties to its erodibility, 33(1); 131-137 (1969)10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300010035x
21
W. H. Woo, M. S. Chae, J. Y. Park, H. Y. Lee and Y. S. Park, Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers, A study to evaluate and remedy Universal Soil Loss Equation application for watersheds and development projects, 65(3); 29-42, (in Korean) (2023)10.5389/KSAE.2023.65.3.029
22
N. Y. Yu, D. J. Lee, J. H. Han, K. J. Lim, J. Kim, K. H. Kim, S. Kim, E. S. Kim and Y. S. Park, Journal of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers, Development of ArcGIS-based model to estimate monthly potential soil loss, 59(1); 21-30, (in Korean) (2017)10.5389/ksae.2017.59.1.021
Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국농공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국농공학회논문집
  • Volume : 67
  • No :5
  • Pages :53-60
  • Received Date : 2025-07-14
  • Revised Date : 2025-07-23
  • Accepted Date : 2025-07-30
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.5389/KSAE.2025.67.5.053
Journal Informaiton Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Journal of Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crossref funder-registry
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
  • open access
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close