Ramandeep S. Sidhu^1*, Mark Dougherty¹, Wesley C. Zech², Beth Guertal³

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¹ Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, USA.
² Department of Civil Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, USA.
³ Department of Crop, Soils and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, USA.
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Abstract: The main goal of this study was to quantify reduction of runoff responses using selected erosion control covers on 1.2 m × 0.6 m plots under simulated rainfall to determine the most cost-effective temporary cover treatment under similar soils, rainfall and embankment slope conditions. The different erosion control covers tested were polyacrylamide (PAM), wheat straw and PAM (WS + P) with and without seed; and engineered fiber matrix (EFM) with and without seed. The EFM + S and WS + P + S treatments were the most effective treatments for runoff volume with 68.0% and 48.9% reduction, respectively, as compared to control. EFM + S was the most effective treatment for turbidity and modified total suspended solids (MTSS) with 98.7%, and 99.8% reduction, respectively as compared to control. Vegetation in the wheat straw treatment significantly reduced turbidity but less effect on runoff volume and MTSS than vegetation in the EFM + S treatment. Seeded treatments combined (EFM + S, WS + P + S) had a significant negative correlation between MTSS delivery and time (r = –0.69), as compared to a positive correlation of corresponding non-seeded treatments (EFM, WS + P) over time (r = 0.14). The EFM + S treatment had 39% less average MTSS delivery than WS + P + S but the WS + P + S treatment ($1.03 kg-1 sediment reduction) was found to be 84% less expensive than the EFM + S treatment ($6.36 kg-1 sediment reduction). The WS + P + S treatment can therefore be recommended as the most cost effective method for sediment delivery reduction under similar conditions and within the limitations of this small scale plot study.

Keywords: Erosion, Sediment, Runoff, Turbidity, Vegetation, Water Quality

Cite this paper: Sidhu, R. , Dougherty, M. , Zech, W. and Guertal, B. (2015) Cost Effectiveness of Erosion Control Covers during Vegetation Establishment under Simulated Rainfall. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 7, 119-129. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.72010.

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