Hillslope Erosion Mitigation: An Experimental Proof of a Nature-Based Solution

Ciro Apollonio, Andrea Petroselli, Flavia Tauro, Manuela Cecconi, Chiara Biscarini, Claudio Zarotti and Salvatore Grimaldi
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Ciro Apollonio: DAFNE Department, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Andrea Petroselli: DEIM Department, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Flavia Tauro: DIBAF Department, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
Manuela Cecconi: DI Department, University of Perugia, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Chiara Biscarini: SHeC Center Sustainable Heritage Conservation, Università per Stranieri di Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
Claudio Zarotti: PRATI ARMATI SRL, Opera, 20090 Milan, Italy
Salvatore Grimaldi: DIBAF Department, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Soil erosion during rainfall events is affected by several factors, such as topography, soil type, land management, and vegetation cover. In this study, a series of tests investigates the influence of selected perennial herbaceous plants with a deep and strong rooting system, called MC1, on runoff generation and soil erosion. The tests on the investigated nature-based solution have been performed in the Cape Fear experimental hillslope with natural and artificial rainfall and for different vegetation heights. For all the experiments, runoff, soil moisture, and erosion data were observed and collected. The results obtained in this study suggest the following conclusions: (1) MC1 is effective in terms of soil erosion reduction already with a minimum vegetation height equal to 30 cm; (2) MC1 maximum efficiency, in terms of soil loss reduction, has been reached for a vegetation height equal to 70 cm; (3) In terms of the eroded material, the use of MC1 allows for a reduction of soil loss up to 300 times higher than the bare soil condition; (4) The use of MC1 allows for a reduction in the runoff coefficient up to 1/3 of the corresponding value in the bare soil condition.

Keywords: land degradation; bioengineering techniques; soil erosion; runoff reduction; deep-roots herbaceous vegetation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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