Example properties of soil binders for erosion prevention
Example properties of soil binders for erosion prevention. Source: California Stormwater Quality Association; California Stormwater BMP Handbook.
Link to this table
| Evaluation criteria | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant material based (short lived) | Plant material based (long lived) | Polymeric emulsion blends | Cementitious - based binders | |
| Relative cost | Low | Moderate to high | Low to moderate | Moderate |
| Resistance to leaching | High | High | Low to moderate | Moderate |
| Resistance to abrasion | Moderate | Low | Moderate to high | Moderate to high |
| Longevity | Short to medium | Medium | Medium to long | Medium |
| Minimum curing time before rain | 9 to 18 hours | 19 to 24 hours | 0 to 24 hours | 4 to 8 hours |
| Compatibility with existing vegetation | Good | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Mode of degradation | Biodegradable | Biodegradable | Photodegradable / chemically degradable | Photodegradable / chemically degradable |
| Campatibility with existing vegetation | Good | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Mode of degradation | Biodegradable | Biodegradable | Photodegradable / chemically degradable | Photodegradable / chemically degradable |
| Labor intensive | No | No | No | No |
| Specialized application equipment | Water truck or hydraulic mulcher | Water truck or hydraulic mulcher | Water truck or hydraulic mulcher | Water truck or hydraulic mulcher |
| Liquid / powder | PowderX | Liquid | Liquid / powder | PowderX |
| Surface crusting | Yes, but dissolves on rewetting | Yes | Yes, but dissolves on rewetting | Yes |
| Clean up | Water | Water | Water | Water |
| Erosion control application rate | Varies1 | Varies1 | Varies1 | 4,000 to 12,000 lbs / acre |
1Application rate varies with slope steepness (i.e., steeper = more); see manufacturer’s recommendation.