Currently, soil erosion is the biggest threat to agricultural soils in Australia, with current rates exceeding soil formation rates by a significant amount. Across the country, soil erosion is threatening ecologies, livelihoods, and infrastructure, and it needs to be addressed.

From the impacts of erosion on infrastructure to the best erosion control solutions, keep reading for everything you need to know about soil erosion in Australia.

1. What is soil erosion?

Soil erosion refers to the process of the loss of soil. During this process, soil particles are loosened, and the topsoil and then underlying layers are blown, worn, or washed away as a result of factors such as water, wind, traffic movement and tillage of farmland. While some the process of soil erosion is a natural one, human intervention and practices have caused soil erosion to expedite and intensify, particularly in arid and delicate ecosystems.

Unfortunately, too much soil erosion has an array of adverse effects, including the clogging and pollution of waterways, the decline of arable land, and the disturbance of ecosystems. This matters because communities’ fundamental needs require the viability and availability of healthy, fertile topsoil.

Therefore, it is crucial that processes are put into place to ensure that soil erosion is limited. The appropriate procedures and products must be used to ensure that human activities (such as building and mining) aren't causing an increased amount of soil erosion.

2. What are the impacts of soil erosion on infrastructure?

When it comes to soil erosion, the most vulnerable soils are generally sodic soils. This type of soil contains sodium – a cation (a positive ion) – that is loosely held on to clay particles in the ground. When soil has high sodicity, the clay will start to swell in damp or wet conditions, causing the clay particles to move, separate, and collapse. This significantly weakens the soil, generating collapses, and blocking off soil pores.

If this happens, it can quickly and dramatically affect the infrastructure of roads as well as structural issues due to severely limited water and air movement in sodic soils. In Queensland alone, almost 45% of all soil contains sodic properties, making soil stabilisation a pressing issue if there is going to be successful road construction. This is especially important, given that bitumen and concrete generate a significant amount of runoff.

Similarly, mining and other extractive projects frequently interfere with the natural drainage of the land as they often require digs and roads to be built. When this occurs, it disturbs the soil, which can further intensify the erosion and silting of waterways. If mining exploration in Australia is going to be environmentally safe, then soil stability and erosion prevention need to be prioritised as the hundreds of kilometres of roads and tracks are developed.

3. What are the options for soil erosion control methods?

Currently, the majority of soil management control methods are centred around capturing sediment in silt fences, check dams, blankets and sedimentation basins; however, these methods are not ideal as they require continued maintenance and ignore the source of the problem.

GRT: Enviro Binder

On the other hand, the GRT: Enviro Binder is an environment-friendly, erosion control product that operates quickly to penetrate the soil and bond with the loose granular surface particles. Once the polymer has dried, a durable, waterproof layer is created that binds to the surface and stops erosion.

To apply the product, you first dilute it with water before spraying it onto the specific surface by either hand or truck. When this product is utilised, effective erosion control is provided for 12 months months. That being said, the product has been known to provide erosion control for up to 36 months at a time. To apply the product, minimal soil preparation is required.

This product is mainly used on exposed slopes, embankment batters, stockpiles and bunds and other areas that are at high risk of erosion due to rainfall and overland flow. Also, the GRT: Enviro Binder can also be applied to areas of concentrated water flow such as V-drains and catch banks by using several coats or a stronger mix.

Not only does this product maintain its significant erosion and dust suppression properties over the long term, but it also supports seed and vegetation growth. The GRT: Enviro Binder is non-toxic to both terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna, ensuring it can be utilised even in the most ecologically sensitive areas. Furthermore, the GRT: Enviro Binder eliminates the likelihood of wind erosion and consequent dust generation from the treated surface.

As the GRT: Enviro Binder is the most effective solution for soil erosion control, it enables projects to decrease their safety and environmental risk and save time (and money).

4. What is soil stabilisation?

Soil stabilisation refers to biological, chemical or physical treatments that seek to improve or maintain the stability of soil by modifying its texture, structure and physico-mechanical properties. Soil stabilisation is used to strengthen a soil's bearing capacity, achieve dust control, waterproof the soil for the conservation of natural or human-made structures, and promote the use of waste materials in construction.

Soil stabilisation products, such as GRT PCM, are specifically designed to mitigate against degradation caused by weather or traffic and can be utilised in a range of places including public road pavements, hardstands and lay-down areas, and unsealed haul, rural and service roads.

When using a soil stabilisation product, you can expect to have fatigue crack reduction, induced crack reduction, and shrinkage crack reduction. Additionally, the products waterproof the soil and increase its compressive strength, tensile strength, and resilient modules, as well as reduce the thickness of the pavement.

Soil stabilisation products can be used in conjunction with soil erosion control solutions to ensure that all kinds of soils – under various harsh climate conditions – are safe and secure.

Is your organisation looking for a soil erosion control solution? Are environmental regulations, health and safety concerns or potential profit loss concerns for your business right now? What other questions do you have about the subject? Let us know your thoughts and insights in the comments below.

AUTHOR BIO

Troy Adams is the Managing Director of Global Road Technology, an international engineering technology company in Australia that specialises in engineered solutions for dust suppression, erosion control, soil stabilisation and water management. A pioneering, socially conscious Australian entrepreneur, Troy is passionate about safer, healthier and more cost-effective solutions in the mining and infrastructure sectors and beyond.