<i>Bambusa blumeana</i> fiber as erosion control geotextile on steep slopes

Accelerated erosion has been a threat on the agronomic productivity of arable lands, especially in the tropics with prevalent high-velocity winds and seasonal rainfalls. To prevent further soil degradation, geotextiles are installed as soil cover to provide interim protection until the soils are stabilized with vegetation as a long-term slope protection. This study examined the mechanical properties of a locally available fiber source to assess its viability as geotextile fabric for steep slopes. A woven natural geotextile was fabricated from the fibers of thorny bamboo ("kawayang tinik"). Ropes of 6-mm and 8-mm diameters were produced from the bamboo fibers, and subjected to tensile strength tests in accordance to ASTM D4268. Runoff simulations were carried out to compare the sediment yield between 60° slopes with and without geotextile netting. Sediment yield analysis showed significant reduction in topsoil erosion from the geotextile-covered slope. The bamboo geotextile performed effectively in mitigating slope failure in barren slopes.