Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #92026
Title: POLYACRYLAMIDE EFFECT ON SEDIMENT YIELD, RUNOFF, AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE ON A STEEP SLOPE

Author
item CHAUDHARI, KIRAN - PURDUE UNIVERSITY
item Flanagan, Dennis

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Previous studies show that polyacrylamide (PAM) soil amendments have been effective in reducing runoff and soil erosion by stabilizing soil structure and reducing soil sealing. Recent studies of PAM soil amendments focus on agricultural lands which typically have low slopes. It was hypothesized that the beneficial effects of PAM could also be achieved on steeper slopes, and that grass seedling establishment would be improved due to a more stable soil structure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of anionic PAM soil amendments on runoff, sediment yield, and grass seedling establishment on a critically disturbed steep slope. The study site was a cut slope on a highway project near Logansport, Indiana. The treatments tested were PAM applied alone, PAM applied with gypsum, and a control. For each treatment, three replicate plots (3m x 9m) were constructed on a 33 percent slope. All plots were tilled to uniform roughness, fertilized, and grass seeded. PAM was sprayed on the plots at a rate of 80 kg/ha in solution and powdered gypsum was applied at a rate of 5000 kg/ha. A system of collection barrels was used to measure runoff and sediment yield from natural rainfall. Runoff and sediment yield data was collected for 10 runoff-producing events in 1997. Both PAM treatments resulted in significantly reduced runoff and sediment yield in comparison with the control. Qualitative measures of seedling establishment demonstrate that both PAM treatments resulted in better grass establishment compared to the control. These results indicate that PAM soil amendments were effective in reducing runoff and sediment yield, and aided in grass establishment at this site.