Аннотация:Numerical simulation models are becoming increasingly important in the context of soil conservation and surface water quality protection. For practical reasons many erosion and nutrient load models are based on the USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation). The present study, however, is based on the AGNPS model in discussing the problems of parameterization of rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility and grid dimension for a research catchment in Russia. A sensitivity analysis is included to corroborate the discussion. The outcomes are compared tj those of the physical factors-based MiSum erosion model. The results of the simulations in particular differ in their calculation mode for rainfall erosivity and the demonstrated relationship of erodibility to initial soil moisture content. They further show that the parameter-sets for single events, which are required for AGNPS but not integrated in the basic concept of the USLE, may lead to high uncertainty. It is also shown that more attention must be given to improving the quality of topographic information, as it has a considerable effect on the simulated processes of sedimentation and total sediment load.