Rampant urbanization has contributed to unfortunate deforestation, a profound result of which we see today in terms of soil erosion. To top that, consequences of uncontrolled pollution like rising water level and changing temperature act as an additional host to deforestation, erosion, and damage. Even though some results are currently beyond repair, a large part of the eroded soil still harbors the potential to be revived.

There was a time when saving steep slopes and embankments would take a lot of hard work and mind-numbing calculations. Cutting steps, preventing rainfall washouts, preventing water logging- the list seemed scary! However, erosion control suppliers today have come up with some of the best soil prevention and care methods to help preserve embankments and slope soil.

The Prevention Principles 
Methods deduced and perfected by erosion control bodies have pronounced 4 basic principles of soil erosion all working hand-in-hand with modern prevention and care techniques.

If you have soil prevention in mind, here’s what you need to know-

1. Erosion Control- 
The first principle to remember is erosion control. The primary goal is to prevent the topmost layer from eroding and to do that we need to keep two points in mind- vegetation, even grass, is helpful as it prevents loose soil from eroding. Secondly, Erosion control blankets are the best answer to barren lands. For vegetation to flourish, we need to keep the topmost layer intact and that’s where erosion control blankets come to play.

2. Sedimentation- 
Sedimentation is more of a connecting step or a back-up plan to erosion control. We are talking straw rolls on slopes, gravel bags, silt fences, to prevent the soil from eroding. However, adequate drainage is crucial in these cases with the primary aim being, ‘top layer care’ to prevent further erosion or damage.

3. Run-Off Control- 
This is more appropriate for embankments where soil erosion is primarily due to water impact. Even though you can’t stop water from flowing in during high tide, erosion control suppliers suggest using coconut fiber logs or creating an additional path to divert the water flow elsewhere.

4. Maintenance-
Now, soil erosion is a dynamic concept and the effect of natural calamities cannot be anticipated beforehand. Keeping this in mind, soil erosion prevention demands periodic maintenance to ensure methods employed by us are fruitful enough or not. If your current soil erosion tactic is showing little or no positive result, you may need to re-evaluate your method choice and analyze the situation for improvement.

A Greener Step towards Evolution 
Needless to say, a thriving, healthy, and lush land can bring us innumerable benefits. From crops and vegetation to future sustainability, even a barren land on the brink of destruction can be revived if we think green. With your techniques and tactics and our wide assortment of premiere-grade soil erosion control accessories by your side- we are sure we can take a steady dive into the greener side together.

Construction workers and builders move a lot of soil when working on a project, albeit unintentionally. When the ground erodes because of construction activities, it usually has a significant impact on the surroundings. When workers impact the land in a variety of ways, they make it vulnerable to erosion from water, wind, and movement. In recent studies, grading and filling were found to be two of the most damaging construction techniques that degrade soil quality and lead to sediments washing down into the surrounding water bodies. For this reason, contractors have the responsibility of figuring out different ways to limit soil erosion during construction, such as biodegradable erosion control mat.

How does construction impact soil erosion?

Most construction projects require heavy equipment that unknowingly digs and tears into the ground and loosens up the soil. Many projects also intend to remove large quantities of soil to set the foundation of a building. Also, small equipment on a construction site strips away grass and other plants that hold the soil in place with their roots. All of these construction activities make the ground susceptible to losing soil in the event of rainfall and strong winds.

Ways through which Contractors can Prevent Soil Erosion at Construction Sites

Articulated concrete blocks: These blocks are usually used along waterways and drainage channels. They are highly effective in keeping soil in place because they have joints that fit together, enabling them to conform to the shape of the land.

Earth walls: They are made of precast concrete and are filled with granular soil, which helps them perform well when it comes to controlling erosion on slopes.

Turbidity barriers: Also known as floating curtains, turbidity barriers use geotextile membranes that are designed to float on the surface of water bodies such as lakes, rivers or streams. They’re anchored to the bottom of the water body with weights, protecting sediments from going into the water.

French drains: These drains are underground pipes designed to carry water away from construction sites before it washes away dirt from the site.

Soil nails: It involves the installation of closely spaced steel bars or sections into the sides of hills and then capping with facings to stop slope failure.

Riprap: In areas with a high degree of concentrated runoff, riprap can be extremely helpful. Rocks or similar material in geotextile membranes are placed along shorelines, bridge foundation or sleep slope to protect the ground from being washed away by water.

Timber mats: They can be very effective in curbing soil erosion when used as temporary roadways. This is because they are designed to protect sensitive wetlands and other areas.

Building structures, as well as roadways, overpasses, parking lots, and even airfields, require a strong foundation for the best construction and durability. For this reason, it is extremely important to ensure before the beginning of the construction project that the soil—on which the foundation is going to be laid—is stable. If the soil swells too much, it may cause cracks, bumps, and weakened pavement, leading to damages, accidents, and huge financial losses. Soil stabilization is inevitable to prevent these possible damages.

Though there are a variety of methods that can be used to stabilize soil, geotextiles sold by soil stabilization fabric suppliers are gaining a lot of popularity among engineers and contractors who are looking for a more a cost-effective solution that can allow them to provide structurally sound results that their customers can rely on—without having to raise their prices. Geotextiles perfectly meet this requirement! Geotextiles are permeable porous fabrics made of biodegradable natural, synthetic, or composite materials that help prevent engineers and contractor stabilize soil and prevent erosion. They can be installed in virtually any weather conditions. Also, there is no need to worry about installing fabrics near active traffic zones or in a populated area. They are quite strong and durable and do not get affected by even hostile soil environments. If we talk about the installation process, it is quick and does not require any special equipment or labor. There is no need to wait for a long period after the installation as construction can take place almost immediately.

When it comes to stabilizing subgrade soil types and conditions, geotextiles provided by soil stabilization fabric suppliers are the ultimate choice! They work by separating two layers of material, so they can co-exist in a structurally effective manner. Depending on the type of soil, the choice of fabric varies. Geotextiles are available in woven, non-woven, and grid forms. Apart from reinforcement for strengthening the soil, fabrics help in soil separation, filtering, and drainage.

Get Natural, Synthetic, and Composite Geotextile fabrics from Nedia

Nedia has been helping engineers and contractors for a long time now by catering to their various geotextile needs. Though we also have a wide variety of erosion control and bioengineering products made with synthetic and composite materials, we primarily focus on products made from natural fibers. Contact us for natural geotextile fabrics for soil erosion control, such as coir, jute, and straw.

Not able to find a product that you are looking for, or need help selecting a fabric? Give us a call at (888) 725-6999!

Mother Nature works in mysterious ways. From planting a sapling to harvesting the golden crops, everything in Nature is intermittently intertwined and with every firm step towards urbanization, humans tend to lose touch with Mother nature setting across a series of repercussions in the name of pollution, deforestation, soil erosion, and many more. However, there are times when nature herself lashes out and no matter what the underlying reasons to soil erosion is, it is us, who face the adversities in front of a natural terror. In order to combat the rampantly growing soil erosion and its extreme repercussions, small and compact measures have been formulated which includes prevention steps like selective grazing, limited fertilizer usage, using biodegradable erosion control mats, and more.

Here’s a list of some of the sure-fire methods that can help prevent the surge of soil erosion we see around us-

Using Cover Crops– Leaving a soil unattended is one of the leading causes of erosion. In order to save the top layer, the latest erosion prevention technique suggests using cover crops with quick germination period.

1. Erosion control blankets– Steep slopes are the hardest to control with the downward sliding landscape making it ideal for topsoil erosion. However, biodegradable erosion control mats could be the perfect answer to your problem. These mats are usually made of straw, shredded coconuts, wood fibres, coir and more making them resilient to easy sliding or damage due to wind.

2. Silt fence– Speaking about biodegradable erosion control mats, silt fences are the perfect companion concreting the erosion blankets. Consider silt fences more as check dams on the sloping side of hill keeping the erosion blanket in place.

3. Hydroseeding– Yet another popular method to tackle soil erosion is through hydroseeding. This is a prompt and convenient way to spread water, woodmulch and tackifier a plant-based glue that glues the seeds and the woodmulch together and secures the soil firmly in the process.

Healthy soils that were once soft to touch, veiled with greenery and brimming with biodiversity are now barren lands of rocks, dust, and cracks. Repeated over usage, uprooting vegetation or over-grazing along with nature’s air, wind, and water have all come together to strip the natural glow. However, some of these damages are still reversible and with accurate measures by our side, we can prevent further erosion, damage, and harm.