Abstract
Soil erosion by raindrop impact is an important source of soil erosion from slopes and other non-concentrated flow areas. Vegetation is one of the most effective ways for minimizing soil erosion by raindrop impact. Ground covers, such as mulches, rock, and rolled erosion control products (RECPs) are also effective in reducing the effects of raindrop impact by limiting the amount of soil exposed. This paper presents the results of a laboratory study that compares the rainsplash performance of 4 different RECPs (wood excelsior, coconut, jute, and polypropylene (PP)), with and without vegetation, using a rainsplash simulator. The results are used to evaluate the contribution of vegetation and the role of RECPs in minimizing soil erosion. Based on the results of 44 tests, it was found that the use of RECPs on bare soil slopes reduces soil losses by 74% to 91%. The use of vegetation in combination with RECPs further reduces soil losses by 95% to 99%. Rainsplash tests provide a useful venue for comparing the performance of RECPs and vegetation and the effects of different RECP index properties on soil loss results. It is recommended that rainsplash results be validated with large-scale ASTM testing and field results.
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