Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Evaluating the efficacy of wood shreds for mitigating erosion

Author: Foltz, Randy B.; Copeland, Natalie S.

Date: 2009

Source: Journal of Environmental Management. 90: 779-785.

Description: 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

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Citation

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