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Improvement of the K-Factor of USLE and Soil Erosion Estimation in Shihmen Reservoir Watershed

Author

Listed:
  • Bor-Shiun Lin

    (Disaster Prevention Technology Research Center, Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Taipei 11494, Taiwan)

  • Chun-Kai Chen

    (Disaster Prevention Technology Research Center, Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Taipei 11494, Taiwan)

  • Kent Thomas

    (Department of Civil Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 11494, Taiwan)

  • Chen-Kun Hsu

    (Disaster Prevention Technology Research Center, Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Taipei 11494, Taiwan)

  • Hsing-Chuan Ho

    (Disaster Prevention Technology Research Center, Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Taipei 11494, Taiwan)

Abstract

The estimation of soil erosion in Taiwan and many countries of the world is based on the widely used universal soil loss equation (USLE), which includes the factor of soil erodibility (K-factor). In Taiwan, K-factor values are referenced from past research compiled in the Taiwan Soil and Water Conservation Manual , but there is limited data for the downstream area of the Shihmen reservoir watershed. The designated K-factor from the manual cannot be directly applied to large-scale regional levels and also cannot distinguish and clarify the difference of soil erosion between small field plots or subdivisions. In view of the above, this study establishes additional values of K-factor by utilizing the double rings infiltration test and measures of soil physical–chemical properties and increases the spatial resolution of K-factor map for Shihmen reservoir watershed. Furthermore, the established values of K-factors were validated with the designated value set at Fuxing Sanmin from the manual for verifying the correctness of estimates. It is found that the comparative results agree well with established estimates within an allowable error range. Thus, the K-factors established by this study update the previous K-factor system and can be spatially estimated for any area of interest within the Shihmen reservoir watershed and improving upon past limitations.

Suggested Citation

  • Bor-Shiun Lin & Chun-Kai Chen & Kent Thomas & Chen-Kun Hsu & Hsing-Chuan Ho, 2019. "Improvement of the K-Factor of USLE and Soil Erosion Estimation in Shihmen Reservoir Watershed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:355-:d:196991
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jihui Fan & Artemis Motamedi & Majid Galoie, 2021. "Impact of C factor of USLE technique on the accuracy of soil erosion modeling in elevated mountainous area (case study: the Tibetan plateau)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12615-12630, August.
    2. Walter Chen & Kieu Anh Nguyen, 2022. "The New Island-Wide LS Factors of Taiwan, with Comparison with EU Nations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-11, March.
    3. Kieu Anh Nguyen & Walter Chen & Bor-Shiun Lin & Uma Seeboonruang & Kent Thomas, 2019. "Predicting Sheet and Rill Erosion of Shihmen Reservoir Watershed in Taiwan Using Machine Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-18, July.
    4. Kieu Anh Nguyen & Walter Chen & Bor-Shiun Lin & Uma Seeboonruang, 2020. "Using Machine Learning-Based Algorithms to Analyze Erosion Rates of a Watershed in Northern Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, March.
    5. Walter Chen & Wu-Hsun Wang & Kieu Anh Nguyen, 2022. "Soil Erosion and Deposition in a Taiwanese Watershed Using USPED," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Valter S. Marques & Marcos B. Ceddia & Mauro A. H. Antunes & Daniel F. Carvalho & Jamil A. A. Anache & Dulce B. B. Rodrigues & Paulo Tarso S. Oliveira, 2019. "USLE K-Factor Method Selection for a Tropical Catchment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Kent Thomas & Walter Chen & Bor-Shiun Lin & Uma Seeboonruang, 2020. "Evaluation of the SEdiment Delivery Distributed (SEDD) Model in the Shihmen Reservoir Watershed," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-21, August.

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