A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COCONUT, PALM FROND AND PALM STEM FIBRES AS EROSION CONTROL MATERIALS ON EMBANKMENTS

Abstract

The research focused on the use of fibres from coconut pud, palm stem and palm frond in erosion control on embankments.  It compared single layer performance of the three fibres on three different slopes and a double layer performance of the coconut fibre.  Two coconut fibre nets and a single net each for the palm stem and palm frond were used with a cell dimension of 2cm x 2cm and a boundary dimension of 360cm x 122cm.  The fibres were in turn placed over a model of soil embankment in a soil bin.  Rain was simulated for 30 minutes over the protected soil and the amount of soil loss determined.  This soil loss was compared to the loss from the unprotected slope.  The single and double layered coconut fibre were found to be more effective in reducing soil loss compared with the control experiment and fibres from palm frond and palm stem.  For instance, for a slope of 3%, the soil loss from the single and double layered coconut fibres were 279.4g and 204.3, respectively, compared to 1051.6g, 322.80g and 310.60g for the unprotected soil, the palm stem fibre and palm frond fibre, respectively.