Hydrologic and Water Quality Aspects of Using a Compost/Mulch Blend for Erosion Control
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 9
Abstract
Construction projects often expose large amounts of soil to erosive forces of wind and rain. These areas must be stabilized and vegetated before a Notice of Termination can be submitted to regulators. The objectives of this project were to compare the stabilization performance of two types of compost wood mulch blend top dressing (low and high organic matter), a wood based hydromulch, and seeded bare soil and to determine the amount of sediment and nutrients exported from each type of treatment. Ten test plots were constructed at a quarry in Parker County, Texas and outfitted with runoff capture systems. Runoff quality and quantity was evaluated for 2 years after installation. Sediment discharge was reduced by 98% on the compost/mulch blend plots and about 75% with hydromulch treatment compared to bare plots. Treatments reduced nutrient loads, although runoff concentrations of nitrate and dissolved P from compost treated plots were often higher than from bare soil or hydromulch plots.
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Acknowledgments
This study was financed through grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The writers would like to express their appreciation to Todd Adams of TAIER for all the work he did in the field in support of this work and Bill Carter, the TCEQ project manager, for all the helpful guidance he provided.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 9 • September 2010
Pages: 646 - 655
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 2, 2009
Accepted: Dec 29, 2009
Published online: Jan 16, 2010
Published in print: Sep 2010
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