Protecting our nature is our moral duty and various methods are used by environmental experts to save the nature. In order to eliminate the major issues causes by the external natural circumstances, repair technologies are generally used and slope protection is one of them.
Slopes are normally susceptible to erosion by wind and rainfall and it should be protected. Methods are various which are used to protect slopes such as retention of walls, geo grid, drainage repair system and benching etc. These methods works in different kinds of situations, here we discuss some of the common methods used for slope protection:
a€¢ Physical barriers: Barriers like plastic sheet, fencing, netting and mats are used to protect soil erosion. These barriers hold the soil and prevent its moving as much as possible. Fencing requires efforts while installing but protects the soil to move down from hill whereas plastic sheet is easy to roll over the soil and prevent its erosion from the wind. Bags of gravel are also used for protection as it quickly blocks the sliding dirt from covering a road.
a€¢ Mulch: Mulch can hold soil and prevents it to runoff. It has an added advantage over soil stabilizing plants as its quick application time. It can cover exposed soil easily but it does not provide permanent soil stabilization until it breaks down and becomes a part of soil. Mulches are made up of different kinds of materials like straw and wood and easily available in market.
a€¢ Plants: Plants are one of the common methods used to prevent soil erosion. Grasses and other ground cover plants are used for this purpose but it takes time to establish and hence not recommendable in emergency situation. However some experts believed that plants can prevent muddy runoff and dust problems and hence better to use.
a€¢ Binders: To limit the erosion and for holding the soil at a fix place, binders are used. These are applicable for short period of time and its time period may vary from months to years. These binders have liquid that is sprayed over the soil to help it stay at a place.
a€¢ Terrace: Terraces are just like flat steps build on slopes where vegetation can plant. In fast moving water situation these terraces are very effective to control soil erosion.
In order to save natural resources soil erosion is very necessary as the loss of top soil can greatly affect the growth of the crops and other vegetations due to soil erosion. Fast moving water, gravity and wind are some major causes of soil erosion. Unstable soil can create various problems and may results in dangerous landslide and to save nature, slope protection is essential.
