Efficacy of nano-hydromulch in mitigating runoff and sediment from forest road trenches..

Water erosion causes significant damage to forest roads. Protecting cut-and-fill slopes can mitigate these damages. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of several protective coverings based on nano-materials in reducing runoff and sediment yield from forest road trenches. Nano-hydromulch (NH) with rice straw, sawdust and grass, NH with grass, grass, and control were investigated under laboratory conditions on slopes of ۱۰% and ۳۰%, as representatives of the major slopes of forest road trenches, with three replications. Using a rainfall simulator, a rainfall event with a volume of ۱۸۰۰ cm۳ was simulated, and runoff, sediment, sediment concentration, runoff coefficient, and soil loss were measured in the treatments. Results indicated that increasing slope steepness from ۱۰ to ۳۰% significantly increased runoff by ۷۶%, sediment yield by ۹۷۹%, and soil loss percentage by ۴۸۰% (p < ۰.۰۱). Therefore, cut-and-fill slopes should be adequately protected. NH treatments effectively reduced runoff, and by creating proper soil aggregate adhesion, reduced substantially sediment yield and soil loss (p < ۰.۰۱). It is recommended to use NH, especially combined with grass, to protect cut-and-fill slopes of forest roads, thereby reducing maintenance costs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Grass ، rainfall simulator ، Sediment concentration ، Soil loss