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Best Management Practices on Slope Erosion Controls due to Runoff

Conference Paper · January 2012

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Syed Muzzamil Hussain Shah Khamaruzaman Wan Yusof

Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
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Best Management Practices (BMP) On Slope Erosion
Controls Due To Runoff
Syed Muzzamil Hussain Shah, Khamaruzaman Wan Yusof, Ahmad Mustafa Hashim,
and Zahiraniza Mustaffa
Civil Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Abstract –- Soil degradation is one of the detrimental Under Malaysian environment, erosion by water is dominant
environmental problems especially in the humid tropical regions due to high mean rainfall, its regular occurrence and storm
like Malaysia. To mitigate and control undesirable siltation and density. The way rain drop affects the bare soil particles at
in turn make soil more sturdy and effective to hamper the flow different time intervals in seconds is illustrated in fig.1 which
impact, effective best management practices (BMP) are required.
shows steps in drop cater formation [5].
Based on the previous studies wood shreds are feasible
alternatives to agricultural straws and wood strands, in
increasing infiltration, reducing runoff and improving biological
activity and soil quality. This study provides a comparative
analysis between the bare plot (Plot A), native grass (pearl grass)
covered plot (plot B), and an arrangement of grass-patterns and
wood shreds plot (plot C) to determine the efficiency of the plots
in controlling erosion under the concentrated flow. The purpose
of the study is to make the commonly practiced technique more
useful to lessen and handle the erosion phenomenon and to make
the improved knowledge of the experiment more helpful to
provide profound information for soil conservation techniques.

Index Term -–Concentrated flow; BMPs; Erosion; Pearl grass;

Wood shreds

I. INTRODUCTION
T he International Soil Science Society termed soil as
“limited and irreplaceable resource”. Without this the
region of the surface and atmosphere of the earth where living
organism exist would crack, with adverse effects on humanity
[1]. Soil keeps carbon dioxide (CO2) and other green house
gases in the soil organic matter. Organic matter has many
other merits like it improves water quality, enhances
infiltration, amends soil structure, bears extreme weather
impacts, allows microbial habitats and even the antibiotics
taken to cope with the infection are received by soil
microorganism [2]. It is therefore obligatory to protect soil
from the normal and accelerated erosion phenomenon.
Soil erosion by water and wind leads to undesirable effects on
soil which results in the loss of fertile top soil and causes land
degradation and adverse affect to the environment. The best
management practices (BMP) are required to be implemented
in order to control the erosion phenomenon and in turn make
the land productive and amend environmental quality [3]. It is
a wise practice and technique which subsides and moderate
the erosion problems. The choice of technique must fulfill the
criteria including cost effectiveness, feasibility, availability,
durability, compatibility and labor and management [4].
Figure 1.Rain drop erosion (Adapted and modified from [5].)
High intensity rainfall and frequent rainstorms are very
common in Malaysia than other developed countries therefore
rigorous controlling measures, structural or non-structural
should be considered to cope with the erosion problem [6].
Erosion has eternal list of harmful effects and water is one of
the significant factors of soil erosion, when results in gully
erosion (expensive to repair) can make the land unstable even
the sediments that enters water body makes it contaminated
and causes unwanted siltation. To overcome this complexity it
is recommended to enforce cost-efficient land management
practices [3]. Wind erosion occurs on the lands, lacking
moisture particularly where the loose fine materials are
present in great quantity although not usually a problem in
Malaysia but it may endanger life and health where bare
ground are exposed yielding dust. Vegetation cover is
therefore recommended as it breaks the wind velocity and
protects the soil from not being exposed to erosion [4].
In humid tropical area like Malaysia rainfall characteristics
must be taken into consideration for one of the main reason of
erosion. Depending on the mean rainfall intensity in some
parts of the world it is assumed that 40% of vegetation cover
is appropriate to gain considerable protection from rainfall but
in Malaysia due to the frequent rainstorms, high intensity
rainfall and its regular occurrence
rence it is preferable to consider
complete cover [4]. Increasing
easing the vegetative cover expects
reduction in the runoff and increment in the percolation at
each slope level as it allows more time for water to infiltrate
by retaining the flow of water [7].. The way disch
discharge affects
the soil particles when there is a break in vegetation cover and
how it leads to the formation of gully floor is illustrated in
fig.2 [8].
Figure 2.How overland flow affects surface cover and soil
(Adapted and modified from [8].)
Proper land management is therefore necessary to reduce red the
impact of soil erosion to a great extent. Covering the bare soil
with an appropriate cover helps in increasing infiltration and
surface storage by improving the soil structure. It protects the
soil particles from the force of falling rainfall and thus
t impede
the shifting of soil particles which hinders the formation of
surface sealing thus reducing the runoff [3].
II. PROBLEM STATEMENT
One of a dominant factor that erodes the soil particles is
erosion by water which affects the soil geometry and
undermines the soil structure, resulting in its failure. The
response of the concentrated flow in terms of intense runoff
cannot be neglected, as it plays a vital role for the soil particle
transport when compared to the rainfall and un-concentrated
un
flow. Although there have been performed many studies to
cope with this problem but this research intends to introduce a
unique, comprehensive and focused investigation using
random grass patterns to mitigate the effects of runoff
velocity, which
ich not only influence the sediments transport but
also causes stability to the mulches and restrict them to drift
from the soil surface.
III. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The objectives of proposed research are as follows:
1. To propose framework of study using random grass
patterns that can reduce the flow velocity which in turn
reduces the peak flood discharge and decreases the sediment
load in streams.
2. To evaluate the combined effect of wood shreds and grass
patterns against erosion.
IV. SCOPE
During natural rainfall conditions some steady soil wetting
(infiltration) is observed before runoff generation but this
experiment limits that the soil is highly compacted which does
not allow water to percolate and therefore infiltration is not
considered.
V. LITERATURE REVIEW
Professionals, planners and landscape designers are provided
with the equipments at their disposal to retain soil on the
surface. It is therefore required to key out the most feasible
and least expensive best management practices (BMP)
(BM which
can assist reducing erosion. Few of the instantaneous surface
conservation non-structural
structural BMPs involves sstraw bale
barriers, silt fences, organic mulches, rolled erosion control
systems, hydro-mulches
mulches and dust suppressants [9]. From the
background studies it has been found that there have been
implemented many of the practices to mitigate the erosion
phenomenon. Few of the continuing efforts to evaluate the
operation of erosion control methods are discussed here.
Figure 3.Different techniques
ques studied in the literature review.
An efficient method to conserve water and soil by coating the
soil surface with a stratum of plant residue is termed as
mulching which enhances water infiltration, reduces surface
runoff
unoff and hinders soil erosion. It also prevents the
consumption of water within the root area which holds back
the evaporation process and is very effective in the regions
with the high rainfall intensity specially on the elevated
geological formation as it moderates runoff and soil loss [10].
One of the flaw found in mulches is it may float away when
subjected to erosive concentrated flow [4].
To diminish soil loss, agricultural straw is supposed to be
cheap, easy to implement, readily available and effective.
Although it is a convenient approach but having few
drawbacks an alternative approach is preferred as while
applyingg agricultural straw, the straw gets shattered carrying
dust particles which causes serious health risk to the workers
[11]. Straw decomposes ahead of time thus its potency is
affected under different climatic conditions [12].
Wood strand does not contain weeds and dust particles like
agricultural straw and are obtained from the stuff that would
otherwise be wasted, but for their production controlled
dimensions were required in the manufacturing process [11].
Gravel-sand mulch enhances soil productivity and modifies
the hydrological process which helps to slow down runoff and
evaporation. It enhances soil temperature and enriches
biological activity of the soil which impedes free movement of
water and in turn preserves soil water. It ceases surface sealing
and crusting, and conserves the composition at the soil surface
which improves infiltration by keeping the extra water in
contact with the surface. Gravel cover densities trap dust
particles which constantly reduces wind erosion. The flaw
includes that for its application field should be closer to the
gravel and sand source. Other drawback involves seedbed,
which is difficult to prepare and proper compaction is required
for not allowing soil to mix with the gravel-sand layer
therefore its construction needs labor invest [13].
The elementary purpose of using plastic mulch is to control
parasitic worms following soil fumigation. Other merits
involves maintaining soil temperature, holding soil moisture
and to curb the weed growth. It is also observed that surface
sealing is a common phenomenon on the plots free from
plastic mulch which impedes infiltration. One of the
disadvantage of using plastic mulch is its impervious nature
which generates runoff [14].
Hydro mulching consist of a mixture of shredded wood fiber
and a stabilizing liquid with a hydro-mulching equipment,
which is desirable for soil disturbed areas but it is not a
permanent technique and provides only temporary protection
is therefore considered short lived, and even to become
effective it takes 24 hours to dry and require a second coating
to remain effective throughout the rainy season [15].
Rubber mulch is made up of reprocessed tires and has a
greater specific gravity than water which does not allow them
to float. However, tire mulch contains toxic compounds which
kill species of micro organisms and releases toxic gases such
as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to
the environment. Other studies have found rubber mulch less
effective when compared to sawdust, straw and other fibers
[16].
For low inclinations a rubble wall of medium strength, made
of rocks is used which is provided with the circular pipes to
drain the accumulated water. The defect involves that if the
walls are not properly built and strengthened then it may result
in total destruction, which makes reconstruction obligatory
[4].
Shrub cover can provide valuable resistance to runoff and soil
erosion in comparison to grass cover [17]. It not only control
soil erosion and runoff but it also improves soil character due
to its capability of fixing nitrogen and giving spark to the
organic matter cycles resulting in richness of shrub lands.
Thus, it is preferred to analyze the maturity period and
colonization of the shrub species first in order to determine its
effectiveness concerning erosion and runoff. A drawback
found in shrubs is under establishment period are not effective
in reducing runoff and soil erosion, their capability improves
when they are completely mature.
Vetiver grass is a sturdy grass that originates up to 1 m wide at
its base. It consists of main root of plant growing straight
downward from the stem. The roots grab the soil particles
firmly and once established it very difficult to root out [4]. In
hot and humid region vetiver grass have been suggested to be
effective for soil protection but they cannot survive in the
temperate regions that is winter season and even its
germination period takes about two or three years for the
development of thick grass hedges [18].
Vegetation cover provides shelter to the soil surface by
intercepting rain drops which hamper erosion process [1]. It
further revealed that for low intensity rainfall that is 21 mm/h
runoff and erosion rates were negligible in covered plots [19].
The most effective way to restore degraded soil is by
improving natural vegetation [20].
Depending on the land topography, climatic region and other
related features it is preferred to use native grass species to
alleviate rain drop impacts which therefore reduces runoff and
increases rate of infiltration. For the rainfall intensity of 45
mm/h runoff rate from the grass cover found to be 4.2 mm/h
where as for shrub cover it was found to be 9.3 mm/h whereas
soil loss remained relatively constant for both the grass and
shrub covered plots under the same intensity which reveals the
efficiency of grass cover [17]. Increasing the grass cover
decreases surface runoff [21]. Moreover, in most areas grasses
have produced desired and intended results for erosion control
as they grow rapidly and provide complete protection layer to
the ground surface [22].
Comparing the consequences of vegetation cover and the root
area ratio of the grass roots on relative soil displacement rates
shows that grass roots are well capable of reducing soil
detachment. Furthermore, roots have the quality to tie the soil
particles at the soil surface and increases surface roughness,
therefore soil particles does not easily get influenced by the
rill and gully erosion [22].
Material such as tree branches and little diameter trees are
ragged on-site to form wood shreds. Mulch collected from the
main source (on-site) can reduce both the production and
transportation costs [23]. In reducing runoff, wood shreds
were found capable in both fine-grained sandy loam and
coarse-grained gravelly sand. The establishment of small dikes
trapped sediments and retained runoff. With the addition of
cover, the time to runoff increased. Specific dimensions are
not required to be controlled for the production of wood
shreds like wood strands [11]. It is enlightened that a 30-
percent of shredding cover is equally effective to the 70-
percent straw mulch cover [24].
 VI. METHODOLOGY
The study area is located at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
Figure 4.Location of the study area.
Three plots Plot A, Plot B, and Plot C with an analogous soil
condition and area are established
ished having slope of 45 degree
degree.
To determine the percentage of clay, silt, and sand in the soil,
particle size distribution (PSD) will be performed. Soil water
content and bulk density will be measured before and after the
flow conditions
onditions by oven drying soil sample at 110˚C
110 for 24
hours. Grass samples were collected from different sites and
indigenous grass known as pearl grass is selected as it
germinates quickly within period of two months and suits
Malaysian climatic conditions.
Figure 5.Schematic diagram of experimental setup.
etup.
The detailss of the experimental setup are illustrated in fig.5
fig.5.
All plots were equally observed and received the same volume
of concentrated flow in order to evaluate the behaviour of the
soil particles, grass patterns and wood shreds against erosion.
To obtain the amount of discharge “Q (m3/sec)”
/sec) required to
flow
ow on the slopes, water will be collected in a cylinder of
known volume and time against collection will be noted.
Once runoff is generated,
nerated, samples will be continuously
collected during the entire experiment using buckets
buck of known
volume, each with five minutes of sampling time to assure
precise and accurate soil loss and runoff measurement.
Settled sediments will be collected at the base of each plot
using geo-textile
textile mat. For the suspended particles water will
be decanted from the samples by allowing particles to be at
rest for 24 hours. Total solids will be calculated by oven
drying both settled and suspended solids for 24 hours at
105˚C.
VII. EXPECTED RESULTS
The research is expected to extenuate soil erosion an and
influence the time to runoff. Moreover, the combine effects of
grass patterns and wood shreds will significantly contribute to
one of the prime approaches used for the purpose of erosion
mitigation in Malaysia.
VIII. CONCLUSION
It is hypothesized that the combination of pearl grass and
wood shreds would be effective as grassg germinates quickly
thus providing appropriate ground cover which intercepts the
rain drop impact whereas grass roots have the tendency to
bind the soil particles and the presence of the wood shreds acts
a bolster to the grass as it forms miniature dams which trap the
sediments. Additionally, woods shreds are biodegradable,
provided with the caliber to get decompos
decomposed thus adding
nutrients to the soil. The results are hoped to provide an
appropriate method which would be beneficial in future for
Malaysian climatic conditions.
IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is grateful to the supervisor, Associate Professor
Dr. Khamaruzaman Wan Yusof and the co-supervisors,
co
Associate Professor Ahmad Mustafa Hashim and Dr.
Zahiraniza Mustaffa for their encouragement and support in
the making of proposal.
The author would also like to thank Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS for sponsoring
ring the graduate assistantship.
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