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Erosion Control Measures

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ECM of Urban Land - Mulching

Mulching:

Similar to seeding, mulching is a method of applying plant or non-plant materials to cover bare soil surface. The main goal of mulching is to protect the surface of the soil from the impact of erosive forces. In construction sites, mulch can be placed to minimize wind and water erosion. However, the type of mulching selection depends on the land (i.e., slope). Heavy and large sized mulch would be more appropriate for a steep slope. In steep or gentle slopes, matting can be done to hold the mulch in place and reduce its movement by wind or water.

Aside from protecting the soil from erosion, mulching conserves water and reduces soil temperature fluctuations. If the mulch is plant-based or organic, it also increases the soil tilth. For a table of the advantages and disadvantages of various mulch types, click the button below.

Fact Sheets:

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~rmoench/mulch.pdf
http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/iac/greentip/gt1101.pdf

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/Mulching.html

Thinking Question:

Compare plant-based mulch and the synthetic mulch. Discuss the advantages and limitations of both. Why might a contractor choose one over the other?

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This project was supported in part by the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants CAP project 2011-68002-30029 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, adminstered by the University of California-Davis and by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education, National SMETE Digital Library Program, Award #0938034, administered by the University of Nebraska. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA or NSF.