Soil loss control using plant fiber barriers (bamboo) in an area degraded by gully

This paper puts forward a linear erosion control measure in an area degraded by gully by means of implanting barriers of bamboo fiber. The pin method was applied in order to analyze the efficiency of this methodology. An estimate of soil loss was calculated from the variation in the soil levels in the experimental plots to consider this variation, the area of the experimental plots, and the soil density. After 17 months of monitoring the experimental plots, the efficiency of the barriers in controlling accelerated loss due to a greater concentration of sediment accumulation in the barriers’ upstream pins and a greater soil loss in the pin farthest from the barriers could be observed. In the experimental plot with barriers, a soil loss rate of 4.4 Mg / year was observed, and a 10.25 Mg / year rate was estimated for the experimental plot with no barrier. An efficiency rate of 66% in controlling erosion in the experimental plot with barriers was calculated from these estimates. The adoption of these low cost barriers, there being abundant material in the study region, is recommended as a control method due to the ease of handling the plant fiber and its fixation in ravines with slopes of nearly 15º.