Application Of Grass Research Articles

The Impact of Biodegradable Geotextiles on the Effect of Sodding of Difficult Terrain

Difficult terrain is characterized by deteriorated conditions for plant adaptation, e.g., owing to poor substrate, substantial land slope, or intensive insolation. In terms of plant adaptation, difficult terrain includes newly created ski slopes, any kind of embankment, scarps, levees, and etc. Application of grasses is an effective and economic method of stabilization of the ground. However, sowing of grass-legume mixtures to sod these areas does not typically produce adequate effects. Application of a new generation of protective fabrics with the addition of bird feathers may be a remedy to these problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of biodegradable fabrics for covering difficult areas to improve the habitat conditions for plants. To evaluate this issue, an area characterized by difficult conditions for plant development was selected. Five types of protective fabrics were applied. The main factor influencing the efficiency of the sodding of difficult terrain was the application of fabrics that were capable of absorbing water, which were then given to plants over a longer period of time. Vegetation grew easiest through the geotextile made of sheep wool with the addition of bird feathers. Fabrics manufactured from problematic waste materials contribute to an ecological effect as well as an economic effect resulting from lower costs of waste management as well as the income from selling the innovative product.

Developing a hybrid adoptive neuro-fuzzy inference system in predicting safety of factors of slopes subjected to surface eco-protection techniques

This study predicts the investigation of surface eco-protection techniques for cohesive soil slopes along the selected Guthrie Corridor Expressway stretch by way of analyzing a new set of probabilistic models using a hybrid technique of artificial neural network and fuzzy inference system namely adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Soil erosion and mass movement which induce landslides have become one of the disasters faced in Selangor, Malaysia causing enormous loss affecting human lives, destruction of property and the environment. Establishing and maintaining slope stability using mechanical structures are costly. Hence, biotechnical slope protection offers an alternative which is not only cost effective but also aesthetically pleasing. A parametric study was carried out to discover the relationship between various eco-protection techniques, i.e., application of grasses, shrubs and trees with different soil properties as well as slope angles. Then the data have been used to develop a new hybrid ANFIS technique for prediction of factor of safety (FOS) of slopes. Four inputs were considered in relation to the different vegetation types, i.e., slope angle (θ), unit weight (γ), effective cohesion (c′), effective friction angle (o′). Then, many hybrid ANFIS models were constructed, trained and tested using various parametric studies. Eventually, a hybrid ANFIS model with a high performance prediction and a low system error was developed and introduced for solving problem of slope stability.