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Effectiveness of ground
cover depends on the potential for rill erosion relative to interrill
erosion.
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Ground cover has a greater
effect on rill erosion than on interrill erosion.
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The equation Eff = exp(-b
%grdcov) used to compute effect of ground cover.
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The b value in this
equations represents the relative effectiveness of ground cover—increased
effectiveness means an increased b values.
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Values for b range from
0.025 where interriill erosion is the dominant erosion to over 0.05 where
rill erosion is dominant.
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Example, b value is higher
for steep slopes where rill erosion predominates than for flat slopes where
interrill erosion predominates.
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Value b is greater where
increasing ground cover significantly increases infiltration.
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Effectiveness of residue
depends on contact between soil and ground cover. RUSLE2 assumes less effectiveness for
conditions where soil loss biomass is low.
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Effectiveness of residue on
steep slopes is a function of type of residue. Rocks get more credit because of their
contact with the soil than long pieces of mulch like un-chopped wheat straw.
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