REDUCTION IN INTERRILL SEDIMENT TRANSPORT BY ROLLED EROSION CONTROL-SYSTEMS

Rolled erosion control systems (RECS) reduce detachment and transport of sediment by mitigating the basic processes of sun-off and erosion ( e.g., splash detachment, interrill transport, run-off velocity, surfac e crusting). Despite the variety of products available in the market t oday, only limited research has been conducted on their influence on e rosion subprocesses. This study addresses some of the limitations of p revious research by using laboratory rainfall simulation to study rain splash sediment redistribution, run-off, total interrill sediment tran sport, and aggregate size transport from an erodible Vertisol. Three 3 -h rainfall simulations were conducted on a 20 degrees slope at a rain fall intensity of approximate to 100 mm h(-1) on (1) a bare soil contr ol, (2) four predominately natural RECS, and (3) four synthetic RECS. Data indicate that all products significantly reduced run-off (enhance d infiltration), and decreased interrill sediment transport compared t o the bare soil control. However, it was observed that several product s (C125, Curler I, Geojute, SC150BN, TB1000, and P300) were statistica lly more effective than PECMAT and TerraJute. Finally, preferential tr ansport of selected aggregate fractions was examined. Cover percentage , three-dimensionality, and drapability were identified as favorable p hysical attributes for mitigating erosion processes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.