Water erosion control

Sulfur Coatings for Dust and Water Erosion Control... 

Fig. 4. Integrated vault technology for low level waste disposal where A represents waste containers that are placed in concrete overpacks and sealed with grout B, closed modules covered with a multiple-layer earthen cover, to direct water away from modules, and short rooted vegetation for erosion control and C, overpacks placed in reinforced concrete modules which are closed with a reinforced concrete roof Courtesy of Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc.

Soil conditioners are materials that measurably improve the physical characteristics of the soil as a plant growth medium. Typical uses include erosion control, prevention of surface sealing, and improvement of water infiltration and drainage. Many natural materials such as peat and gypsum are used alone or in combination with synthetics for soil conditioning. This article is concerned with synthetic soil conditioners, many of which are introduced as polymeric systems similar to the gels and foams formed in situ by chemical grouts. 

Loudermilk, W. C. (1934) The role of vegetation in erosion control and water conservation. /. Forest. 32, 529-536. 

In more recent applications, several types of ET cover designs also have incorporated synthetic materials, such as geomembranes, which are used to enhance the function of minimizing water into the waste. For example, the Operating Industries Inc. Landfill in California has incorporated a soil layer with a geosynthetic clay liner in the design. The cover system for this site will reduce surface gas emissions, prevent oxygen intrusion and percolation, and provide for erosion control.68... 

Phytoremediation is the use of plants to treat or stabilize contaminated soils, sediments, or water. Plants provide and support remediation processes in many ways. Common applications of phytoremediation-based systems include remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, reuse of municipal wastewater and biosolids, reuse of industrial wastewater and by-products, alternative landfill capping and erosion control, and landfill leachate reuse. 

Researchers working for the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station developed the stubble-mulch or crop residue mulch practice, a highly effective method of soil erosion control (Douley and Russel, 1939). Stubble mulching used subsurface tillage implements that left crop residues on the soil surface and provided some protection against wind and water erosion (Zingg and Whitfield, 1957). 

Management of our forests is now well appreciated by almost everyone. The need to maintain growing stands of timber for water management, erosion control, timber yield, recreation, as well as for timber products and grazing, is well recognized. 

Slope stabilization is just one potential application for composites in the broad area of erosion control. Several other related applications are bridge abutments, freeway cuts, storage tank embankments, mine tailings, sand dunes, and areas of turbulent water flow. 

Pesticides have to be developed against pathogens, insects and weeds, which cannot be controlled adequately by the products available today. New demands are created by the acquired resistance of pests to various kinds of pesticides, by changes in the ecosystem arising from pesticide application, and by new agronomic techniques, such as new water management systems, erosion control, and zero tillage. All these demands set new research tasks. 

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