SoilErosion.com

Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

Coir

Products to Help Prevent Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is usually caused by one of two environmental events — wind or water.

Wind erosion occurs in flat, bare areas where land may have recently been cultivated or in dry, sandy areas where soil might be loose or unstable. Wind erosion lifts soil particles into the air and deposits sediment over great distances. Preventing soil erosion due to wind involves stabilizing the soil, increasing its moisture content, and encouraging it to form clumps and clods, making it more difficult to move.

Soil erosion caused by water produces drastic changes across a landscape. As surface soil is washed away, vital nutrients go with it, compromising seed and plant growth. Cultivated land is susceptible to sheet erosion when the soil becomes overwhelmed by the rush of water and can’t absorb moisture or filter the water. Combatting erosion from water involves shoring up ditches and culverts, as well as creating dams to divert water’s progress or slow it down.

Causes of Soil Erosion

Rainfall and runoff contribute to soil erosion by carrying soil away and leaving behind sediment, pesticides, and fertilizers in its path. Wind does much the same, except dust clouds from suspension erosion can travel vast distances to blanket regions or smother crops with sediment.

Soil’s vulnerability to erosion might dictate how extensive damage might be but may also provide clues to preventing erosion or minimizing its impacts.

Slope length, land topography, and elevation contribute to soil erosion. Mudslides are a common sight when erosion from water sends sheets of topsoil to slide over itself and dislodge. Accumulating structures like sand dunes created from deposits left from wind erosion are likely to be lifted and carried into the air over and over during a wind event.

Vegetation, or the lack of it, plays a vital role in keeping soil stable and stationary. Roots from growing plants help bind soil together to make it harder to move. Trees can provide soil protection from the wind by making it more difficult for wind to reach the soil.

Effects of Soil Erosion

Economic impacts include crop loss, loss of soil fertility, and repairs or restorations to regions affected by soil erosion. Infrastructure might be weakened and roadways compromised due to accumulating sediment or runoff.

The environmental impacts of soil erosion can be seen in several influences. Wind erosion might strip the land of its topsoil surface and compromise substructures or rooting plants. Water erosion can stress rivers and streams and cause their protective banks to collapse under water’s driving force. 

In regard to the impacts on human health, wind erosion can cause dust and dirt particles to be lifted into the air and possibly blown through windows, exacerbating allergies or upper-respiratory issues. Water erosion compromises agriculture and might result in low-quality produce. Both types of erosion wash away fertilizers and pesticides, carrying them over the land to deposit in rivers or streams or via wind, tainting air and water quality. 

Preventative Measures

Today’s market offers many soil erosion control products in varying applications that can help minimize the impact. Whether their use is for road construction or to provide stabilization and filtration, there are products that can meet and exceed expectations. 

Geotextiles help control erosion and come in several different shapes, types, and textures depending on the purpose it will serve. Geotextiles come in three main forms: woven, non-woven, and coir. These textiles are useful in the preventative practices of strip farming and terracing.

Woven Geotextiles

Woven geotextiles and fabrics are made from several different fiber types. Their tight construction stabilizes soil and are effective for erosion control. These geotextiles are often used in road construction and shoreline erosion control. Woven geotextiles are put to work in regions of heavy erosion, in riprap, and on embankments and slopes to minimize runoff and wall collapse.

Non-woven Geotextiles

Non-woven geotextiles are used for their smooth, felt-like surface that allows water to flow through the fabric while still filtering particles. Non-woven geotextiles are used in areas that require subsurface filtration and stabilization and provide adequate drainage. Non-woven geotextiles are often found in asphalt overlays and in the understructure of ponds. 

Coir textiles

Coir textiles are made from the husk of the coconut and provide a natural solution to erosion control. Coir textiles allow for deep rooting and provide nutrients to support the growth and development of vegetation. Coir supplies adequate aeration and drainage to allow for permanent vegetation to grow through. Coir works to hold seeds and saplings in place and is safe for wildlife. Coir needs no chemical treatment. 

Coir is used to create check dams — small dam constructions across ditches or swales to slow the flow of water or divert its movement. It also adds to existing contours in order to build up the land or fill rills or gullies. Because coir’s life span is two to five years, it is used for short-term, temporary, and semi-permanent solutions. Coir comes in various forms in order to utilize it to its full potential. 

  • Coir wattles create a natural barrier to filter water. Coir wattles are used for their strength and filtration qualities and make wattles ideal for new construction sites to minimize impact. They’re also found in restoration projects to help prevent future damage.
  • Coir erosion control blankets are used to increase soil stability. They are effective in decreasing the effects of wind and water erosion and are often used on slopes or areas sensitive to erosion. In climates where there is a lot of shade or cold temperatures increase seed germination time, coir erosion blankets are used to protect and nurture seeds.
  • Coir logs work in the same way as wattles and blankets, but their shape makes them ideal for use in areas of erosion and runoff such as hills, banks, and shorelines.

More is understood today about how soil erosion impacts the environment, economy, and health. With this knowledge in mind, products on the market are designed to perform various functions in order to stem the tide and offset the wind.

Ways to Control Coastal Erosion

Our coasts are precious resources, home to an abundance of wildlife and popular destinations for rest and relaxation. However, with climate change, human involvement, and normal natural processes, our coastlines are in danger of eroding. When natural barriers such as mangrove trees get removed from coasts due to storms or development, the water begins to dissolve the coastline, dragging away sand and wearing down the limestone.

There are, however, ways to control this process. Coir is a natural, eco-friendly material that can slow coastal erosion and minimize damage. As a byproduct of coconut trees, coir is one of our best resources for keeping coastlines safe from erosion. Naturally produced and ecologically safe, this product is revolutionizing how we deal with coastal erosion. Here we’ll describe how to prevent coastal erosion and how coir can help. 

What Is Coastal Erosion?

Simply put, coastal erosion is the act of a water source degrading a nearby coastline. Each coastline is different, ranging from rocky outcroppings to smooth expanses of sand. Regardless of the geological makeup, erosion affects each of the various ecosystems similarly.

Many places around the world are experiencing incredible amounts of coastal erosion. Louisiana is widely regarded as the main problem area in the United States for coastal erosion, losing as much as 50 feet of beach per year. According to Stephen Leatherman of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign, upward of 80 to 90% of the country’s coasts are experiencing erosion, many at unprecedented rates.

What Causes Coastal Erosion?

Coastal erosion has many causes. Often, erosion is a one-way process, with damage being nearly impossible to counteract once it has occurred. Erosion can happen naturally, as it has been for thousands of years: Wonders like the Grand Canyon, for instance, are testaments to the power of water eating away at rock. 

Most often, natural erosion is a slow process. However, with the increasingly volatile weather and rising sea levels, natural erosion has sped up significantly. According to the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, the federal government spends approximately $150 million each year on beach nourishment and other erosion prevention measures.

Natural phenomena aren’t the only reasons our coasts are eroding more rapidly. Human intervention is another major player in coastal erosion. Beachfront properties have always been desirable, and in the rush to create more, natural barriers such as mangrove forests have been removed. Without these barriers, the erosion process speeds up significantly.

Other human-created issues include storm barriers and cement blockades. While these can help reduce the damage from storm surges, the reflected wave energy can lead to accelerated erosion as soil and rock get sucked away from the coastline and sent out to sea. 

To best preserve our coasts, we must explore alternative methods for reducing erosion and protect our climate by reducing harmful practices. 

What Is Coir?

Pronounced COY-er, coir is one of the best natural solutions for erosion. Derived from coconut fibers, coir is eco-friendly to harvest and manufacture. It comes from the inner husks of a coconut shell and is a fibrous, coarse material with multiple unique properties. It’s rot-resistant, extremely strong, flexible, and buoyant.  

The most common use of coir, and where you’ve probably seen it before, is in household products such as doormats. It’s also commonly used as a lining for hanging baskets because it easily allows for soil drainage without leading to rot. Coir is also used as an eco-friendly stuffing, as sack material, and as gardening material.

Coir isn’t the easiest product to produce, although it doesn’t take excessive processing or require harmful chemicals like many synthetic products do. The process begins with soaking the coconuts’ outer husks until the fibers can be pried apart and separated. Often, manufacturers separate the fibers by color and size. This grading process makes it easier to designate batches for particular uses. The dark brown coir, which comes from mature coconuts, is what people use most often for erosion prevention, as it’s one of the hardiest grades available. 

Once it’s been processed and graded, coir gets bound together into whatever form it’ll be used for, including logs, wattles, bricks, and mats. 

How Does Coir Prevent Coastal Erosion? 

Coir is a particularly effective material for helping prevent coastal erosion, especially for beaches that are in danger of washing away or have been nourished with new deposits of sand recently. 

Coir used to control coastal beach erosion in populated areas is typically bound into logs. These are placed as breakwaters or are set beneath sand dunes. They provide an excellent substrate for roots to take hold of, allowing for protective plants such as sea oats to take root and keep the sand in place. This helps prevent further erosion while also encouraging the return of native plants to beach areas where they had once been. 

Coir mats can help prevent erosion in areas where aesthetics are less of a concern. These mats are placed along areas that are in danger of eroding and help prevent the water from dragging the soil or sand away. Logs and wattles are also used for this purpose and are typically placed in rows to provide additional support along the coastline. 

Thanks to coir’s rot-resistant properties, these measures can stay in place for a long time, outliving many synthetic products. In addition, they don’t release chemicals or damaging byproducts into the water or ground where they’re placed, another attractive feature of these coastal-erosion-prevention products. 

In instances in which a sea wall must be built, either to protect the real estate nearby or because the area is too far gone for more natural erosion prevention, coir can provide an effective fabric underlay and is quickly becoming a popular choice among builders.

Coir is a practical choice for coastal erosion prevention thanks to its eco-friendly nature and efficacy. Whether used on a riverside or beachfront property, coir has the potential to become the most widely used geotextile in the industry. 

Ways to Control River Bank Erosion

Rivers and streams are dynamic waterways that are always changing. Part of this change occurs during river bank erosion. While river bank erosion can sometimes deliver favorable results, more often it can have harmful outcomes. Learn more about how and why river bank erosion occurs and methods you can use to stop bank erosion from happening.

What Is River Bank Erosion?

River bank erosion occurs when water wears away at the banks of a river or stream. While river erosion is a naturally occurring process, human impact can increase its rate. Common contributing factors to river and stream bank erosion include:

  • Clearing vegetation away from the river bank.
  • Flooding.
  • Intense rainfall.
  • River bank saturation from nonriver water.
  • Stream and land use management.
  • River straightening.
  • River redirection around infrastructure or debris in the channel.
  • Characteristics of the river bank soil.

The Impact of River Bank Erosion

While almost all rivers will have some amount of healthy river bank erosion, unstable rivers that have large amounts of erosion are cause for concern. At the site of the erosion, issues can include loss of businesses and farmland, which can bring economic hardship to the area. Additionally, erosion can lead to homelessness and migration if people are forced to move. The most significant problem with river bank erosion is mass failure, which occurs when an entire section of the river bank collapses into the river.

Not only does river bank erosion impact the area where the erosion is happening but it can also affect life down the river. Erosion sends extra sediment downstream, which can change the river’s course and disrupt shipping channels.

How to Stop River Bank Erosion

While river bank erosion is an ongoing issue, there are certain river bank control methods available that can slow down or even stop the process. Because erosion occurs in a natural environment on the water, most people prefer to use natural materials to control river bank erosion. When you’re exploring river bank erosion control options, you’ll find everything from temporary and biodegradable materials to permanent solutions.

Natural Vegetation

Vegetation has a major impact on bank erosion. For the most part, river banks that have vegetation erode slower than those without. This is because the roots of the vegetation generally increase the soil’s strength around the river bank, which makes the bank less prone to mass failure. Additionally, plants can act as shock absorbers during heavy rainfall, which also slows the rate of erosion.

While trees and plants that are native to the area are always the best choices when selecting natural vegetation to control river bank erosion, you can also opt for plants known for their expansive root systems and ability to grow near water. The willow tree is one of the best choices for stopping erosion on the river bank because it grows large and durable root systems rapidly.

Soil Erosion Mats

Another common option for erosion control is a soil erosion mat. While these mats are sometimes made with wood fiber or straw, one of the top materials used is coir coconut fiber. This is because coir is strong yet natural. Plus, unlike straw or wood, coir can last in the water anywhere from two to five years.

It’s good for areas that need temporary reinforcement because it offers a period of increased stabilization before eventually biodegrading into the surrounding area. Additionally, coir soil erosion mats won’t harm fish or other wildlife in the water, and it can help vegetation establish along the shoreline for long-term erosion control.

Coir Logs

Coir logs are another river bank erosion repair method made using coconut fiber. Coir logs are large in diameter, which makes them ideal for supporting river banks or being used for erosion control on hills, shorelines, and other areas prone to erosion. Even though they’re big, coir logs are easy to place. Once they’re in position, they can help establish vegetation growth. They’ve been effectively used in construction sites, restoration projects, and stabilization areas. Most coir logs will last two to five years before biodegrading.

Geotextiles

You can get geotextiles in different materials for a variety of applications. One option you’ll find is woven or nonwoven synthetic fiber geotextiles. Woven geotextiles are incredibly strong, which makes them well-equipped to handle large drainage and erosion control areas. Nonwoven geotextiles are permeable, so they’re ideal for areas where you need drainage and sediment control. Because both woven and nonwoven geotextiles are made with synthetic fibers, they’re UV- and rot-resistant.

You can also find geotextiles made with coir fabric. The fabric comes on rolls that flatten out on the embankment. Unlike synthetic fabric geotextiles, coir geotextiles are biodegradable and won’t harm the environment. Additionally, the roots of vegetation can potentially grow through the fibers and establish plants over the geotextiles.

Tree Revetment 

Tree revetment is a river bank erosion control system that uses small fallen trees anchored horizontally in place along the river bank to prevent erosion. The trees slow the flow of water, which cuts back on the rate of erosion. They also catch sediment in the tree branches and prevent it from flowing down the river. This sediment then creates an effective soil bed to let natural vegetation take root.

Gabions

For a river bank that needs a strong and permanent erosion control method, gabions might be the best choice. Gabions are large metal baskets filled with stone or concrete rubble. They’re an ideal solution for areas in which a large amount of soil erosion is likely to occur. Although they’re not particularly attractive, you can sink the gabions below the water line at the river. Not only does this make them nearly invisible but it also helps slow the velocity of water flow and train the river to flow in the desired path.

Although river bank erosion has serious consequences, you have several option to control it. When you need to stop river bank erosion, consider implementing one of these effective methods.

Using Coir to Help With Soil Stabilization

Soil stabilization is an integral part of a variety of projects, from commercial and industrial construction to home gardening. Whether you need to build a road or just want to improve your property’s soil to encourage healthy plant life, soil stabilization is something you should consider early in your project.

What Is Soil Stabilization?

Simply put, soil stabilization is the process of altering your soil to enhance its physical properties. For example, a team working on a construction project might use soil stabilization as a way to increase the load-bearing capabilities of the ground they’re building on so the roadway or building has a more solid foundation. 

There are two main methods of soil stabilization:

  • Mechanical stabilization, which involves mechanical alteration of the soil (i.e., dropping a heavy weight repeatedly on the soil to smooth and compact the surface);
  • Chemical stabilization, which relies on adding something to the soil to alter its properties. Standard chemical stabilization additives include cement, lime, kiln dust, and fly ash.

Most recently, a form of chemical stabilization called polymer/alternative stabilization has begun to gain popularity, as the materials used are generally cheaper and more effective than traditional chemical stabilization additives. 

Using Coir for Soil Stabilization

Researchers have begun studying the use of coir fiber as a stabilization method and comparing it to standard chemical soil stabilization methods. Coir fibers — made from the husk of coconuts — are far more sustainable than most traditional chemical additives and have the advantage of being more eco-friendly. However, because of their biodegradable nature, coir fiber might need to be added to soil more frequently than would other chemical products. 

Coir pith is one of the forms of coir most commonly used for soil stabilization, as it can be purchased in easily transportable blocks to be crumbled on-site or it can be converted to organic ‘manure’ that you can spread quickly through the topsoil. 

Using coir as a soil stabilizer in your garden can have additional benefits. Because coir is fungus- and bacteria-resistant, it provides extra protection for your plants. It also increases the soil’s ability to hold water, as it is highly water-retentive. And as it breaks down, coir adds essential nutrients to your soil, contributing to your garden’s long-term health. This is especially useful when planting sensitive seeds or germinating plants that need specific conditions in which to grow successfully.

Soil stabilization is something that exists both to prepare residential landscaping sites and to improve commercial and industrial construction areas. From providing a more stable base for roadways to ensuring a solid foundation for new buildings, soil stabilization is widely practiced around the world. And while traditional methods have worked well for decades, new, eco-friendly ways are beginning to gain interest and popularity.

If you’re interested in soil stabilization, we recommend incorporating coir fiber as part of your plan. With its relatively low cost, high sustainability, and ease of use, coir fibers add strength and nutrients to your soil without resorting to harsh chemicals that can leach into groundwater. 

Soil Amendments and the Impacts of Soil Erosion

In theory, you could go into your backyard, dig up a section, and plant a tomato plant seedling. Over time, that tomato plant would grow more prominent, develop yellow blossoms, and those blossoms would become tomatoes that you can harvest. It doesn’t always work out. Your seedling may not do well because its root system cannot expand due to a soil that has a lot of clay in it. You may have blossom end rot because there is a lack of calcium in the ground. There are many different scenarios for why your garden isn’t able to grow vibrant plants.

When your soil doesn’t have everything that a plant needs to grow, you’ll need to make additions to the ground so that it will be ready. This scenario is where soil amendments come into play. Learn more about what soil amendments are and how you can make the most of them. 

What is Soil Amendment?

A soil amendment is something that you add to the dirt to make it more suitable for growing plants. Soil amendments can be used to address issues with aeration, nutrients, pH, and more. Each soil amendment has its own positives and negatives, so it’s often beneficial to determine what problem needs to be fixed before deciding on the proper amendment that you need to use. 

Soil Erosion and Amendments

Soil erosion can take away much-needed minerals, nutrients, and other characteristics that make up fertile soil. The wind and other agents of erosion remove dirt from your garden, and this removal of the topsoil can negatively impact the makeup of the land. If you believe that your garden may have been adversely affected by soil erosion, it is time to look into the use of amendments.

Testing Your Soil

After you’ve noticed that your soil isn’t performing as it should, it’s time to determine what is wrong. It can be very beneficial to test your soil to see what is missing or in overabundance. Some gardeners think that adding a lot of fertilizer amendments are always a good move, but too much can be just as big an issue as not enough in the soil. That’s often why it’s better to start out testing the dirt before making any changes with the amendments. 

There are testing kits that allow you to test your soil yourself to see what needs to be addressed, but you can also have it sent out to a lab to test. Once you’ve learned the cause behind your poor soil, you can choose what amendment you should use to fix it.  

How Much Soil Amendment Do I Need?

The question when it comes to how much soil amendment you need will depend on a few factors. The most important factor is what are you using the amendment to address. For instance, if you are looking to change the pH value of your soil because it’s too acidic, you’ll add lime. Too much lime and your soil’s pH can be just as problematic as soil that’s too acidic. Not enough lime and your soil’s pH won’t change enough. In some cases, it can be a delicate balancing act to get the right amount added. 

The instructions that come with the amendment can be essential in not going overboard with it. These instructions will typically tell you how much of the amendment you should add to a particular sized area. It will also tell you the specific way that you should apply it to get the most benefit from the amendment.   

What is the Best Soil Amendment?

There are a large variety of soil amendments that can work wonders on an underperforming garden. You can find topsoil, garden soil, coconut coir, compost, compost tea, fertilizers, peat moss, manure, mushroom compost, lime, gypsum, and more. 

The best soil amendments are the ones that will fix the issue that you’ve noticed. It can depend on the circumstances. For instance, container gardening does better with lighter soil compositions, so you may find that adding coconut coir to garden soil will give you the benefits from the coconut coir without weighing down the container.    

Organic Soil Amendments

Organic soil amendments are any amendments that you add to the soil that don’t contain any human-made chemicals in them. They are entirely natural, and for many, believed to be a safer option. Farms and gardens that are deemed organic can only use organic amendments. Some examples of organic amendments include manure, leaf mold, mulch, compost, and bat guano.   

Soil Amendments for Clay

Clay soil can be a real issue for gardeners. It often retains too much water, making proper drainage an issue, and can be too heavy for roots to grow into the soil thoroughly. This problem can usually be addressed by adding in an amendment to remove the negative impact that the clay can have on a garden.

Peat moss and coconut coir are two excellent amendments for dealing with soil that features a lot of dense clay. These amendments provide a couple of benefits. One is that they both help to add aeration to the dirt when mixed into the soil. It helps the earth have more air spaces for water to drain and roots to grow. It also can add mass to the land that allows it not to compact down easily. Another is that they help to retain moisture in the soil and slowly release it as needed for the plants growing. 

You’ll want to mix a decent amount of coconut coir or peat moss into the soil before planting your crops for the upcoming growing season. Continue adding the amendment until you get to the point where the clay is no longer an issue. You may also consider adding some additional topsoil in equal parts if you’re working in a large area with a lot of clay.

Your garden can only perform as well as the soil it is growing in. Sometimes, the plants need a helping hand to get them to where they could be with the perfect conditions. Gardeners that want the biggest blooms on their roses or a big crop of vegetables should look into adding soil amendments when needed. These additions to the soil can make a world of difference for how well a garden will grow.