2007 Volume 2007 Issue 249 Pages 313-318
This study demonstrated the effectiveness of mulch composed of the Japanese pampas grass (Miscanthus sinensis) sheaves laid at the ends of furrows for preventing sediment runoff from cropland. The mulch was prepared by placing sheaves of Japanese pampas grass, I m in length and 15-20 cm in diameter, at the ends of furrows. The effectiveness of the mulch at preventing sediment runoff was assessed by measuring the amount of sediment in runoff water from two furrows, one with and the other without grass mulch, that were 15 m in length and 1 m wide. The findings revealed that the effectiveness of the mulch in reducing sediment runoff was 46%. Specifically, when the runoff sediment was sieved and classified by particle diameter, it was found that the effectiveness of mulch for the particle size of under 0.1 mm, the fraction is primarily responsible for high turbidity in coastal waters, was 30%. 95% of coarse sand with a grain size of 1 mm or larger was trapped by the mulch.