Field Testing of Wood-based Biomass Erosion Control Materials on Obliterated Roads

Abstract

Woody biomass erosion control products are increasing in popularity as an alternative to agricultural straw in forested areas. Applications of two wood-based products, wood strands and wood shreds, plus agricultural straw were investigated in this study. All three investigated mitigation treatments significantly reduced soil loss during both the snowmelt and summer seasons on coarse-grained soil. Mitigation treatments did not significantly reduce soil loss from the fine-grained soil, although the untreated plot produced two to six times as much sediment as the treated plots. A significant amount of mitigation material was lost from the shreds and straw plots over the course of the first year. Wood strands maintained their original cover over this time period. All mitigation treatments reduced plant revegetation on the fine-grained soil; however, wood strands did not inhibit revegetation on the coarse-grained soil.