ABSTRACT
The slope-length factor (known as the L factor) has been used in various soil loss estimation models to reflect the effect of slope length on soil erosion. It possesses a power-fimction format and the exponent of the function varies with slope gradient. Researchers have disagreed about the values of the exponent. Some have attempted to tie the rill and interrili erosion process as well as the concept of sediment transport to the slope-length relationship. However, no evidence was available to neither support nor validate the applicability of the slope-length relationship on steep slopes on which the relationship has been extrapolated.
