Evaluating the efficacy of wood shreds for mitigating erosion

Abstract

An erosion control product made by shredding on-site woody materials was evaluated for mitigating erosion through a series of rainfall simulations. Tests were conducted on bare soil and soil with 30, 50, and 70% cover on a coarse and a fine-grained soil. Results indicated that the wood product known as wood shreds reduced runoff and soil loss from both soil types. Erosion mitigation ranged from 60 to nearly 100% depending on the soil type and amount of concentrated flow and wood shred cover. Wood shreds appear to be a viable alternative to agricultural straw. A wood shred cover of 50% appears optimal, but the appropriate coverage rate will depend on the amount of expected concentrated flow and soil type.

Keywords

erosion, erosion control, mitigation, mulch, wood shreds

Citation

Foltz, Randy B.; Copeland, Natalie S. 2009. Evaluating the efficacy of wood shreds for mitigating erosion. Journal of Environmental Management. 90: 779-785.