Durability of Erosion Control Geomesh of Paddy by ‘Accelerated Biodegradation Test’

Abstract

 Paddy straw is abundantly available as crop waste and has a sacrificial quality to biodegrade early, which can be advantageously utilized to develop a low-cost Paddy Straw Geomesh (PSG) to control rain-induced surface erosion of a newly constructed embankment for the critical period of few months of the rainy season. The present study reports employing, ‘Accelerated Biodegradation Test’ to quickly estimate the test time of PSG specimens in the laboratory to reach its durability in comparison with the field test time which is generally longer due to slow disintegration of organic material in climatic conditions. This acceleration is achieved by increasing fungi spore concentration with respect to field fungi concentration, using various concentrations ranging from 3.29 x 105 through 3.29 x 109 spores per gram of soil while taking ‘Accelerated Biodegradation Test’. The findings of ‘Accelerated Biodegradation Test’ report 40% decrease in test time of PSG in a laboratory, using higher fungi spore concentration in soil embodiments, as compared to those in the field.