Benefits of Terra Seeding
Terra Seeding provides:
- A nutrient rich blanet over denuded soils to allow sustainability of vegetative growth.
- An Organic and EPA approved method of bank stabilization.
- 100% Recycled/Organic material so there are no runoff worries into nearby waterways.
- Has a 70% germination rate compared to Hydro Seeding's 25% germination rate and Erosions Mat's 20% germination rate.
Bottom line is that Terra Seeding is a sustainable, one time installation that is more environmentally friendly and cost effective than the multiple Hydro Seeding applications that are required in denuded soils to reach acceptable germination.
Effectiveness of Terra Seeding
Numerous studies conducted by a variety of universities and State DOTs have reported the effectiveness of compost blankets. A University of Georgia research trial (Faucette and Risse, 2002) reported that correctly applied compost blankets provide almost 100 percent soil surface coverage, while other methods (e.g., straw mats and mulches) provide only 70 to 75 percent coverage.
Uniform soil cover by the compost blanket is a key component to effective erosion and sediment control because it helps maintain sheet flow and prevents stormwater from forming rills under the blanket. Compost blankets also help protect the structural stability of the slope, particularly when vegetated (BioCycle, 2002).
An Iowa State University study (Glanville et al., 2003), sponsored by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa DOT, compared compost-treated road embankments to conventionally treated embankments (i.e., topsoil added to surface). The study exposed the test plots to high intensity rainfall (4 inches/hour) lasting at least 30 minutes. The results showed that the 2- and 4-inch thick compost blankets reduced runoff from the embankment by 80 percent. The erosion rate from the compost blanket was less than 1 percent of that from the non-composted areas, and weed growth on compost-treated areas was approximately 25 percent of that on untreated areas.
