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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207969
Title: Cotton-based hydromulches versus conventional hydromulches and blankets: Erosion and grass establishment

Author
item Holt, Gregory
item BUSENLEHNER, BRENT - CONSULTANT
item GUERTAL, ELIZABETH - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Potter, Kenneth
item WEDEGAERTNER, TOM - COTTON INCORPORATED

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2007
Publication Date: 6/15/2007
Citation: Holt, G.A., Busenlehner, B., Guertal, E., Potter, K.N., Wedegaertner, T. 2007. Cotton-based hydromulches versus conventional hydromulches and blankets: Erosion and grass establishment. In: Proceedings of the National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 9-12, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2007 CDROM. p. 2086-2096.

Interpretive Summary: Not Required

Technical Abstract: One commonly used means of reducing the impact of erosion from steep slopes while vegetation is being established is with erosion control products such as roll-out blankets and/or hydromulches. Roll-out blankets are commonly made of wheat straw, coconut husks, or fiberized wood, while the most prevalent hydromulches in the current marketplace are made out of wood, paper, or a wood/paper blend. Recently, organic waste from cotton gins (commonly referred to as gin trash, gin waste, or cotton byproducts) has been used to produce hydromulches. These cotton-based hydromulches were produced using a mechanical process known as Cross-Linked Biofiber Process (CLBP). The objectives of this study were two-fold: 1) Evaluate several recipes of cotton-based hydromulches manufactured using the CLBP, conventional hydromulches, and other erosion control products in their ability to establish a stand of grass when applied at two rates, 2000 and 4000 lb/ac compared to untreated soil (bare soil) and 2) Evaluate one of the cotton-based hydromulch recipes designed to be a spray on blanket, known as Cotton-Fiber Matrix (CFM), for its effectiveness at reducing erosion from a 2:1 slope subjected to a 4.1-in/hr rain event versus conventional erosion control blankets. Results indicate the cotton-based hydromulches significantly improved grass production compared to untreated soil. The other erosion control products did not produce a stand of grass after seven weeks, which was significantly different from bare soil. The erosion study results revealed the CFM product to significantly reduce erosion compared to double-net blankets made from wood, straw, and/or coconut.