Try this agricultural byproduct for easily accessible erosion control…
Next time you need to stabilize a Disturbed Soil Area, consider whether this affordable and natural BMP is right for your project.
Straw mulch applied with Rolled Erosion Control Products (image from @SelbySoil on Facebook)
Straw—dried stalks from grain crops—is not just a great go-to for agricultural uses, it also makes for decent temporary erosion control. Straw Mulch as a Best Management Practice (i.e. SS-6 or EC-6) involves covering disturbed soil with an even layer of straw and securing the straw to the soil.
Methods for incorporating straw with the soil include pressing it into the ground with a studded roller, gluing it to the area with a tackifier, or anchoring it with Rolled Erosion Control Products (RECP) like netting or erosion blankets. Choose your attachment technique based on how much soil you’re stabilizing, disturbed area soil type, and how long you need the temporary cover to last. No matter what, the key to using straw mulch effectively is to pair it with one of these techniques; it’s not something you’re supposed to toss on the ground and walk away from.
A popular application for straw mulch is to place it on areas that will be prepared for revegetation at a later date. The straw will provide temporary cover that will not negatively affect the establishment of permanent vegetation later on down the road. In fact, straw mulch can even be used simultaneously with temporary and/or permanent seeding practices to enhance plant establishment.
Caltrans wants to see plant material that is derived from rice, wheat or barley, and considered weed-free. This is crucial to prevent invasive plant species from being introduced to the area you are stabilizing. Wheat and barley straw specifically must come from irrigated crops, where all straw must be free of plastic, glass, metal, rocks, and other harmful materials. Even though straw is commonly used as stable bedding, straw mulch applied for erosion control must not have been used for this purpose prior to its application on-site.
An example of straw mulch applied on site without being crimped into the soil or glued in place with a tackifier. While this is not the recommended method of installation, it looks like it was applied with some seed and could be used to enhance permanent revegetation efforts.
Tips for Success
We recommend using straw mulch when you need to apply some last minute erosion control in an area that won’t need to be stabilized for a long period of time, or during the rainy season. Odds are it won’t stand up to long exposure to inclimate weather as effectively as other BMPs like hydraulic mulch, RECP, or temporary cover. However, if you need some kind of temporary erosion control on short notice, straw mulch is usually readily available and can be a great stabilization option, especially when paired with a tackifier.
Apply straw mulch with a machine - using blowers or other application machines is usually more cost effective than layering straw mulch by hand
Distribute straw mulch evenly across the DSA - complete coverage provides the best protection from rain and other elements
Place straw on intended areas only - straw in sidewalks, drainage channels, sound walls, and existing vegetation can be messy and possibly add unnecessary debris to our waterways
Prepare the soil before applying straw mulch - if using a tackifier, roughen the soil by rolling the area with a crimping or punching-type roller, or track walking
Don’t apply straw mulch with tackifier during or before a rain event - tackifier needs sufficient time to fully dry and bond the straw to the soil
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Written by Mae Shulman & Edited by Kaeli Tully, QSP
Sources: Caltrans Factsheet SS-6 and Caltrans 2018 Standard Revised Specs
