Investigating the effectiveness of Water Hyacinth Fiber Mat for Soil Erosion Control

Abstract

The usage of natural fiber mat has created much attention especially in soil erosion control sector due to low cost and sustainable materials. This study investigated the effectiveness of natural fiber mat made from water hyacinth stems for soil erosion control. The water hyacinth fiber mat (WHFM) was fabricated with mesh opening size of 30 mm × 30mm and tested at 30 degree slope inclinations under simulated rainfall with constant intensity. Results revealed that soil with treatment (covered by WHFM) significantly decreased sediment yields and volumes, with average 78.74% reduction efficiency compared to untreated soil (bare soil).