Development of Erosion Control Product Longevity Test Methodology

Summary

Several potential testing protocols to determine the functional longevity of erosion control products were evaluated. Specifically, rolled erosion control products of wood fiber, straw fiber, and coir fiber, and hydraulically applied erosion control products made of wood fiber were included in testing. Measuring degradation in a natural environment requires up to 5 years, and this long-term data is presented in this report. Using an environmental chamber with controlled temperature and humidity and inoculation of Trametes versicolor, also called white rot, fungal strains can produce a similar measure of natural decay in 28 days. An even faster index test was tested that can provide a measure of decay in as little as 3 hours using hydrochloric acid and high temperatures, but this is not a natural process and degradation rates between products becomes less comparable. For products with application rates that can be adjusted, such as hydromulch, functional performance testing with reduced application rates to simulate mass loss over time were comparable to tests with degraded material.