Seminar Report

on

“METHODS OF EROSION CONTROL IN SLOPE

AREAS”

Submitted by

RUSHABH DNYANESHWAR JADHAO

Guide

Prof. P. V. KOLHE

Submitted to Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree
BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in
CIVIL ENGINEERING
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
PROF. RAM MEGHE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND
RESEARCH, BADNERA, AMRAVATI-444701
09/2022
 CERTIFICATE OF EXAMINATION

This is to certify that the Seminar Report titled “METHODS OF EROSION

CONTROL IN SLOPE AREAS”, has been satisfactorily completed by RUSHABH D
JADHAO in partial fulfillment of the award of Degree of BACHELOR OF
ENGINEERING in CIVIL ENGINEERING from Sant Gadge Baba Amravati
University, Amravati for the academic session 2022-2023.

Date: / /2022 Prof. P. V. KOLHE

 ABSTRACT

As land development happens in hilly countryside, more erosion control on steep slopes
and embankments is needed. Especially in areas that experience heavy rainfall. Steep
slopes and embankments that have no vegetation or cover are especially vulnerable to
erosion issues. Erosion can cause damage to not only the landscape, but any infrastruc-
ture surrounding the project.  It is important to protect the hillside from erosion during
and after the project is complete. 
Erosion is basically the displacement of soil from one area to another. On steep slopes
and embankments erosion is caused primarily by water, especially by heavy rainfall.
Rain that falls onto the exposed ground dislodges soil particles which are then carried
away down the slope by the flowing water. However, it is the resulting destabilization of
slope that creates an even greater danger as rocks and tree’s roots become exposed.
INTRODUCTION
Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process that affects all landforms. The
causes and effects should be studied in order to control soil erosion. Erosion, whether it
is by water, wind or tillage, involves three distinct actions – soil detachment, movement
and deposition. Erosion takes place all the time naturally. The erosion potential of any
surface is determined by four basic factors: soil characteristics, vegetative cover, topo-
graphy, and climate. Detachment, transport, and deposition are basic processes
that occur on upland areas. Detachment of soil particles is a function of the erosive
forces of raindrop impact and flowing water. Hydrology, topography, soil erodibility,
soil transportability, soil surface cover, incorporated residue, residual land use, subsur-
face effects, tillage, roughness, and tillage marks are the major factors that affect upland
erosion processes. Soil erosion control techniques are theoretically simple and easy but
practically tough, time-consuming, laborious and costly. Almost all soil erosion tech-
niques are very much site-specific.
Soil erosion is the process of wind and water moving soil particles from one
location and transporting and depositing them elsewhere. Erosion is a natural occurrence,
shaping sand dunes, creating river deltas, or carving out enormous rock features like the
Grand Canyon. Humans, however, have dramatically accelerated this process through
agricultural practices, mining, logging and clearing and grading for construction. These
activities can cause detrimental effects on the environment, degrading water quality,
compacting the soil, limiting water infiltration, removing vegetation, and exposing the
soil surface, thereby increasing both runoff and erosion. Erosion rates are higher on lands
that are denuded and reshaped for urban development, than on agricultural land. Sedi-
mentation is the gravitational deposition of transported materials in flowing or standing
water. Sediment can carry polluting chemicals, destroy fish habitat, decrease the storage
capacity of water bodies, and increase the risk of flooding. Deposition of sediment on
roads, and in stream channels, reservoirs, lakes, estuaries, and harbors, reduces recre-
ational and municipal usefulness and may require expensive removal operations. Soil
erosion reduces the productivity of agricultural lands by removing topsoil, exposing less
desirable subsoil. This results in a loss of organic master and nutrients causing a reduc-
tion of fertility and plant available, water-holding capacity.
Mechanics of Soil Erosion

Erosion occurs in two steps: detachment of the soil particle and transportation of the soil
particle down slope. loss of habitat. The physical impact of a raindrop on unprotected
soil serves as the primary detachment mechanism, loosening soil particles and freeing
them to be transported. When a raindrop strikes a surface, the force of the impact acts to
destabilize the particles. The force can be compared to that of a bomb blast. The kinetic
force disrupts soil aggregates, shattering them into individual soil particles. The loosened
particles are then easily removed by runoff water. Dispersed soil may wash into soil sur-
face pores, forming a crust that inhibits the emergence of seedlings and encouraging
rapid runoff from subsequent rain events. Soil particle transportation primarily occurs
through water runoff across the land surface, causing sheet erosion. Soil particles are
transported as the sediment is suspended in water and travels down slope. The rate of soil
detachment and transport depends on soil textures, slope, vegetation, and rainfall.

Factors Affecting Soil Erosion

Soil Texture:
Soil texture refers to the size of soil particles. Sand is the largest sized particle, followed
by silt, with clay being the smallest sized soil particle. Of all the soil particles, silt-sized
particles erode most easily. Sand has large pore spaces that allow for greater infiltration
of water at a higher rate of infiltration. Clay particles, when wetted, become sticky and
cohesive. These clay particles bind to each other becoming more difficult to dislodge and
translocate.

Slope (length and steepness):

Erosion can occur at different rates depending on the slope of the land. The steeper the
slope, the greater the velocity of the water flowing across the surface and its capacity to
transport and erode soil. Increase the length of the slope and the erosive energy of the
water increases.
Vegetation:
Vegetation is the number one way to control erosion. Vegetative cover acts as a barrier
that protects the soil particles from raindrop impact. Establishing grassed expanses pro-
vides a fast and effective measure to slow the velocity of water and allow sediment to
drop out of suspension. Having a leaf canopy from trees, debris, and litter on a forest
floor can reduce the impact on soil caused by the raindrops.

Rainfall (duration and intensity):

Rainfall presents two parameters to consider: 1.) the rain intensity, or how hard the rain
falls, and 2.) the length of time it rains. Overall, the amount of rain that falls and how
quickly it falls determines how fast soils become saturated and runoff begins. The com-
bination of factors listed above determines the amount of erosion that will occur as well
as the amount of sediment that may be transported and deposited elsewhere.

What is soil erosion?

The movement of soil from its source by wind or water to another location.

How does soil erosion occur?

 Soil particles are detached by raindrops (sometimes wind, but mostly through
rain events) and transported down slope.
 Rates of erosion depend on slope, slope length, soil texture, vegetation and rain-
fall.
TYPES OF EROSION 

• Wind Erosion
• Rain Erosion

Wind Erosion :
Wind Erosion is the natural process of transportation and deposition of soil by the
wind. It is a common phenomenon occurring mostly in dry, sandy soils or anywhere the
soil is loose, dry, and finely granulated. Wind erosion damages land and natural vegeta-
tion by removing soil from one place and depositing it in another. The main mechanism
of wind erosion is wind propelling sand and dirt causing erosion.

Over time all the impacts of the loose sand on the rocks start to make the rocks chip
away and erode. Wind erosion is obviously more common in windy areas. Let us take it
back to earth science. Erosion is the action of surface processes such as wind that remove
soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth’s crust and then trans-
ports it to another location. Wind erosion can be caused by a light wind that rolls soil
particles along the surface through to a strong wind that lifts a large volume of soil
particles into the air to create dust storms. As wind erosion is the wind-forced entrain-
ment, transportation, and deposition of soil particles it causes devastating global environ-
mental degradation through the movement of fine nutrient-rich surface soil particles to
water bodies, air, and other land surfaces. This in turn decreases cropland productivity
and increases the risk to human life. Wind erosion also impairs soil properties such as
structure, moisture content, and organic matter, and it is enhanced by the lack of vegeta-
tion on the soil surface.

Which factors contribute to wind erosion?

 The factors that contribute to wind erosion include soil moisture and wind
speed. That way the water molecules bind themselves together, and how they
hold together in the soil is a very strong bond. This cohesiveness will be evid-
ent all the way up the column of soil if they are a good percentage of soil
moisture. If soil moisture starts to fall, the water in the soil column will be
less, the soil will be drier and more sensitive to wind erosion.

 Wind speed is always difficult to calculate with regards to its capabilities of

causing wind erosion. The soil moisture will influence what the speed will
have to be. The size of the soil particles at the surface will be a factor in the
 equation. How much ground cover is there? Is the field freshly prepared, nice,
flat and level with nothing covering it? The form of mechanization used in a
farming context plays party to the susceptibility to wind erosion.
What are the causes of wind erosion?
 Wind erosion can be caused by activities that reduce ground cover below
50% and remove trees and scrub that act as windbreaks. Soil movement is ini-
tiated because of wind forces exerted against the surface of the ground. For
each specific soil type and surface condition, there is a minimum velocity re-
quired to move soil particles. This is called the threshold velocity. Once the
velocity is reached, the quantity of soil moved is dependent upon the particle
size, the adhesion of the soil particles, and the wind velocity itself.
 Land clearing, over-grazing by livestock, and cropping are activities that
leave the soil exposed to the wind. Drought causes greater wind erosion be-
cause less rain means lower vegetation growth and it is vegetation that binds
the soil in place. Less moisture in the soil, makes it easier for soil particles to
be blown away. All in all, drought will deteriorate soil, when the drought
ends and the rains begin, the soils will not have any mechanisms with which
to maintain composure, and they will be eroded swiftly and efficiently. Ve-
getation can agitate soil and many farming practices disturb the ground. The
process of removing vegetation and ploughing land without properly prepar-
ing the site is often the main cause.

RAIN EROSION
There are few areas in the world where soil erosion by water or wind hasn't taken
its toll, either on the farm or in the surrounding environment. This is especially true in
much of the Third World, where harsh climatic conditions, ranging from torrential rain-
fall to drought and damaging seasonal winds, have combined with unsound land use
practices to accelerate erosion problems. On-farm erosion results in soil loss, yield re-
duction, and even abandonment of the land. In the surrounding environment, erosion is
both a cause and effect of deforestation and desertification.
OBJECTIVES :

 To prevent damage to land adjacent to the road structure.

 To reduce the soil loss from the land width of road, which silts up drainage
channel and pollute rivers.

 To contribute to the improvement of the aesthetics of the landscape.

 To protect and preserve the earth work of fill or cut slope, ditches and
drainage structure.

THE EFFECTS OF RAINFALL EROSION

 On those sloping soils where soil conservation methods aren't used to

combat rainfall erosion, farmland and yields will be adversely affected for
several reasons:
 Soil depth decreases due to loss of topsoil.

 Soil fertility declines. Rainfall erosion carries away mainly the smallest
soil particles - the nutrient-laden humus and clay particles that contain
most of a soil's fertility. Studies have shown that eroded material found at
the bottom of a slope contains 2-5 times more plant nutrients than what's
left behind.

 Soil filth deteriorates due to the loss of topsoil and humus.

 Soil moisture decreases due to increased water runoff and less infiltration
into the soil.
EROSION CONTROL SYSTEM
 Tradition/ Conventional Methods.
• Agronomic method.
• Non-agronomic method.
 New Techniques –Engineer Innovation.
• Reinforced vegetation
• Coir geotextiles

Agronomic method :

1. Planting Vegetation
This method involves planting crops with deep roots that can hold the soil in
place. This is particularly important in areas that are more susceptible to erosion such as
streams, hillsides and along rivers.

Vegetative barriers impede the flow of water due to their thick stems that are densely
concentrated. These barriers spread the water runoff to slowly flow through them without
erosion.

Plants that are suitable for erosion control are deep-rooted native plants, such as wild-
flowers, woody perennials, and native prairie grasses.
2. Contour Farming
Preparing and cultivating on slopes can be challenging and can easily lead to soil
erosion. However, contour farming technique, where farmers plant across a slope along
the contour lines can salvage the situation.

This farming system serves to conserve rainwater and reduce soil loss from sur-
face erosion. These objectives can be achieved by means of crop rows, wheel tracks
across slopes and furrows. Hence, acting as reservoirs to hold rainwater.
3.

Applying Mulches

In this method, mulch materials are put down to cover the bare soil and keep it from be-
ing washed away.

Mulching is essentially used to offer erosion control in the initial stages of growing seed-
lings or shrubs. Moreover, mulch conserves moisture and modifies soil temperature to
reduce the fluctuation of both.

Wood mulch can be suitable in gardens and landscapes while organic mulches can serve
to feed and protect your garden in the spring and in the fall.
 

NON- AGRONOMIC METHOD

[Link] Drains:

A table drain is a v, trapezoidal or parabolic shaped surface drain located immediately

adjacent to the edge of a road. The side slope of a table drain should be 6 to 1 where pos-
sible, but can be as steep as 4 to 1.

The function of a table drain is to collect water that has fallen on the carriageway or the
batters of a cutting and flowed to the edge of the formation. Table drains are essential
wherever the road is in cutting and often desirable along the shoulders of embankments.
Table drains require frequent maintenance, such as grading of unlined drains to remove
silt and other debris that may easily block the flow, and to restore the original shape.
2. Cross Drain:

A cross drainage work is a structure carrying the discharge from a natural stream across a
canal intercepting the stream.

Canal comes across obstructions like rivers, natural drains and other canals.

The various types of structures that are built to carry the canal water across the above
mentioned obstructions or vice versa are called cross drainage works.
3. Catch Drain:

A surface drain to intercept and collect the flow of water from adjoining land, so as to
prevent it from reaching a road or mine sidings.

4. Dish Drain

Dish drains are shallow depressions used to collect and direct water to a stable discharge
point. They provide an alternative to rollovers and are generally placed where there is a
natural depression in the road and where low water velocities are encountered, such as on
low grade roads.
New Techniques –Engineer Innovation

[Link] Vegetation
Reinforced vegetation by using geo-textiles & other materials improving slop stabil-
ity
Synthetics jute & coir used as geo-textiles
Geo-textiles are used for engineering applications due to their long life
Disadvantage is that it causes air and water pollution while their non-biodegradibility
is responsible for increasing soil pollution.

2. COIR GEOTEXTILES
Coir Geotextiles protect land surface and promote quick vegetation. Geotextiles are a
wonderful treasure of natural echo friendly, erosion control blankets in woven and non-
woven preparations. Totally biodegradable, geotextiles help soil stabilisation and renew
vegetation in varying slopes.
 Purpose and Scope

Purpose of soil exploration is:

(i) To determine the basic properties of soil which affect the design and safety of struc-
ture i.e., compressibility, strength and hydrological conditions.

(ii) To determine the extent and properties of the material to be used for construction.

(iii) To determine the condition of groundwater.

(iv) To analyse the causes of failure of existing works.

The advantages of soil conservation are;

1. Soil Conservation helps to Address Erosion

2. Increases Carbon Sequestration Capacity
3. Soil Conservation Improves Infiltration and Moisture Retention
4. Soil Conservation Preserves Soil Nutrients by Reducing Leaching
5. Labour and Energy are Minimized
6. Less Greenhouse Emissions
7. Soil Conservation leads to Higher Crop Yield
8. Improves Soil Physicochemical Properties
9. Improves Soil Biological Equilibrium
10. Soil Conservation Reduces the need for Irrigation
 

Disadvantages of soil conservation are;

1. Soil Conservation Requires Manual Labour and Equipment

2. Soil Conservation Techniques may be Time-Consuming
3. Overuse of Pesticides and Herbicides
4. Uneven Distribution of Nutrients
5. Soil Conservation may pose Technical Challenges 
CONCLUSION :

 In all new construction erosion levels should be assessed in advance and appro-
priate protection measures are incorporated in design.
 In case of existing structures facing erosion problems, both short term and long
term measures should be considered to ensure stability.
 For overall economy use of locally available materials should be the first choice
and other methods are use when needed.

 Erosion is the loss of soil. As soil erodes, it loses nutrients, clogs rivers with dirt,
and eventually turns the area into a desert. Although erosion happens naturally,
human activities can make it much worse.

 Erosion can turn once healthy,

vibrant land into arid, lifeless terrain and further cause landslides and mudslides.
Erosion can be controlled easily on a construction site when the right means,
tools, and methods are used at the right time.
 The most natural and effective way to prevent erosion control is by planting ve-
getation. Roots from plants, especially trees, grip soil and will effectively pre-
vent the excess movement of soil throughout the ground. Another popular erosion
control method is the use of a silt fence.
 A silt fence is a long fabric barrier that is installed along a hill, and collects any
storm water that would carry loose soil another effective technique used for soil
REFERANCE :

[Link]
[Link]
[Link] disad-
vantages/#advantages