Evaluation of Standards for Compost Blankets in Stormwater Control

Runoff rates, interrill erosion, and interrill erodibility were determined and compared across 5 compost treatments consisting of erosion control compost applied at 1.3cm (ECC-1.3), erosion control compost applied at 5 cm (ECC-5), general use compost applied at 5 cm (GUC-5), and two control treatments of topsoil (TS) and hydroseeding (HS). An indoor rainfall simulator was used to apply a target rate of 100 mm/hr to all to treatments and at a 3:1 side-slope. The first flush mean runoff for GUC-5 treatment was significantly different than all other treatments. The TS erosion rate and first flush erodibility factor was significantly higher than the HS, ECC-5, ECC-1.3, and GUC-5 treatments. The TS steady-state mean runoff rate, erosion rate, and erodibility factor was significantly higher than HS, ECC-5, ECC-1.3 and GUC-5. Compost depths had no significance in reducing runoff, erosion rate, or interrill erodibility factors. However, coarser materials, and HS had significantly lower runoff and minimal erosion and interrill erodibility factor.