Impacts of nano-hydromulch in mitigating runoff and sediment from forest road trenches

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, Guilan, Iran

2 Department of Water Eng., Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran & Department of Water Engineering and Environment, Caspian Sea Basin Research Center

Abstract

Water erosion causes significant damage to forest roads. Protecting cut-and-fill slopes can mitigate these damages. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of several protective coverings based on nano-materials in reducing runoff and sediment yield from forest road trenches. Nano-hydromulch with rice straw, sawdust and grass, nano-hydromulch with grass, grass, and control were investigated under laboratory conditions on slopes of 10% and 30%, as representatives of the major slopes of forest road trenches, with three replications. Using a rainfall simulator, a rainfall event with a volume of 1800 cm3 was simulated, and runoff, sediment, sediment concentration, runoff coefficient, and soil loss were measured in the treatments. Results indicated that increasing slope steepness from 10 to 30% significantly increased runoff by 76%, sediment yield by 979%, and soil loss percentage by 480% (p < 0.01). Therefore, cut-and-fill slopes should be adequately protected. Nano-hydromulch treatments effectively reduced runoff, and by creating proper soil aggregate adhesion, reduced substantially sediment yield and soil loss (p < 0.01). It is recommended to use nano-hydromulch, especially combined with grass, to protect cut-and-fill slopes of forest roads, thereby reducing maintenance costs.
 

Keywords

Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 29 January 2026

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