Bioengineering techniques combine ecological principles and engineering to construct living systems that prevent erosion. This involves using living plant materials like bamboo, trees, and grasses to build structures like brush layers, hedgerows, palisades, and grass plantings. These living structures stabilize slopes, capture debris, improve soil and water quality, provide habitat, and are more effective and sustainable than conventional erosion control methods. The document provides examples of bioengineering projects in Nepal and describes various techniques and their purposes.

1. Bioengineering techniques
forsoilerosioncontrol
soil bioengineering techniques
 An EcoFriendlySustainableTechnique

2. Bioengineering?????
 integrated technique use engineering in conjugation with ecological
principles to construct vegetative living system to prevent erosion
 combines principles of ecology, hydrology, geology & physics.
 involves use of living plant material to build structures(living fence) that
reduce erosion.
 more effective over conventional structures.
 are aesthetically pleasing , self maintaining , less expensive & streamside
habitat for wildlife & fish.
soil bioengineering techniques

3.  restores overall condition of the stream.
Application of Bioengineering
 Steep slopes
 Cut and fill slopes along roadways
 Landfill covers
 Spoil banks
 Stream banks
soil bioengineering techniques
Bioengineering????? Contd…

4. Bioengineering???????
contd…..
Examples Practiced In Nepal:
 soil bioengineering @ krishnaveer
 Bio-terracing along all hill roadsides
 bioengineering measures @ Dipayal-Mellekh road.
Plant used for bioengineering:
Bamboo, Utis, katus, Eucalyptus, chilaune, kutmiro,kafal tree,
Amriso, Napier, stylo, molasses, Babiyo, kans.
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6. Water balance
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7. Brush layering
• brush layer is a layer of plant
material intercepted between
layers of soil on cut slopes or fill
slopes.
• made of live cuttings planted in
line, on terraces across the
slope, covered with soil.
• Re-vegetation technique,
combines layers of dormant or
rooted cuttings with soil.
• Brush layers act as live fences to
capture debris moving down the
slope.
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soil bioengineering techniques

8. Brush layering
contd….
• primary use- to minimize bank
erosion & additional use -
enhance aesthetics.
• works better on fill than cut
slopes because of use of
longer stems in fill.
• used to stabilize a slope
against mass wasting &
erosion protection.
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soil bioengineering
techniques

9. Brush layering
contd…..
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soil bioengineering
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Row of brush layer being planted Brush layer established after 2 years of
planting

10. • Establishment of dense vegetation in a linear design for natural
resource conservation using woody plants or perennial grasses.
Purpose of Hedgerow Planting:
I. Fodder , cover and corridors for terrestrial wildlife, aquatic organisms.
II. Living fences
III.Boundary delineation
IV.Contour guidelines
V. Screens and barriers to noise, odours and dust.
VI. Improvement of landscape appearance.
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11. Hedgerow planting
contd……
• improve water quality & provide
wildlife habitat.
• a soil conservation measure but
also generate fodder & income to
marginal farmers.
• contribute to sustainable mountain
development through erosion
control.
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soil bioengineering techniques

12. 8/30/2017soil bioengineering techniques
Hedgerow planting
contd….
Strengths Weakness
Effective control of soil
erosion on sloping land
Difficult to establish in
steep slopes
Increase soil fertility Takes long time to establish
Produce fodder & forage
for livestock
High initial cost
Bio-terracing Difficult to establish bio-
terraces
Simple to implement using
local resources
Threatened by free grazing
animals

13. Palisade
• Palisade is a wall consisting
of living uniform stakes driven
into the ground close to each
other.
• top ends of stakes are tied to
a horizontal pole at both sides
of the gully.
• used as defensive structure.
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Palisades with double horizontal pole

14. Palisade contd…..
• live materials sprouts & becomes major structural component;
contribute to soil moisture depletion through transpiration.
• Trap material moving down the slope, form a strong barrier and
reinforce slope.
• Quick & easily to built, immediately effective, usually grows well,
cheap if material at site is available & Filter effect.
limitation:- availability of material restricted(long, straight
poles).
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soil bioengineering
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15. Grass planting
• Establishment of perennial conservation cover using seed, clump,
rhizome, cuttings.
• common practice on marginal cropland to prevent wind, water
erosion.
• quickest and easiest ways to add vegetation to a large area.
Why permanent grass cover?????
• Enhances soil quality by reducing compaction & restoring depleted
organic matter.
• Reduces soil erosion- dense root systems, form a structural web
within the soil; the particles are trapped between roots.
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soil bioengineering techniques

16. Grass planting contd..
• Improves the water infiltration
capacity & improves water
quality.
• Direct sowing of grass seeds
(Lasinus sindicus) creates
barrier for sand movement.
• Sequesters carbon.
• Creates wildlife habitat,
especially for grassland birds
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