On the calculation of the land cover and management factor in soil erosion assessments

• Most of methods to calculate the RUSLE’s C-factors have been reviewed. • Methods generally yields similar C spatial patterns but substantially different absolute values. • Methods based on LCLU maps are highly sensitive to lookup table definition and LCLU dataset features. • Methods based on Earth Observation capture sub-annual dynamics, but lack agreement across formulas. • Uncertainty hampers absolute estimates but still allows spatiotemporal relative comparisons.