Influence of woven structure on coir rolled erosion-control products

ABSTRACT: Rolled erosion-control products (RECPs) are used in erosion-prone zones to hold the soil until permanent vegetation is established. A variety of materials are available for controlling soil erosion, but RECPs made of coir or jute offer several advantages such as better moisture retention in comparison with synthetic materials for the growth of vegetation, and they are durable and biodegradable. In this study, the application of plain, 2/1 twill and 4-end satin-woven RECPs were investigated for soil erosion control. Runoff soil erosion tests were carried out in a bench-scale setup according to ASTM D7101 with modifications at 15°, 30° and 45° slope angles. Simulated rainfall was applied to the test tray filled with soil brought from the lower Himalayan Shiwalik ranges. Germination tests were performed according to ASTM D7322. It was observed that twill woven RECPs showed better performance in germination tests with the highest total rooting and vegetation in the range 86.4–96.6% in comparison with 81.9–84.1% for plain woven structures. The soil erosion test results were found to depend on the soil slopes. At lower and medium slopes, twill woven structures were found to perform better whereas plain woven structures were found to perform better for steeper slopes.