The establishment of vegetation in civil engineering work

Abstract

Wherever civil engineering construction is carried out soil is denuded of vegetation. To prevent soil erosion these areas must be revegetated in the shortest possible time. Recently advances have been made with methods of spraying seed into steep banks — called hydroseeding, and with soil stabilizing materials. Plastics are playing an important role here. There is a need for further research into the selection of suitable grass species for revegetating steep slopes. This work is challenging because of the many problems that have to be overcome before a suitable grass cover is established.

UITTREKSEL

Waar siviele‐ingenieurskonstruksie uitgevoer word, word die grand ontbloot. Om grond verspoeling te voorkom is dit belangrik om hierdie oppervlaktes so gou as moontlik met plantegroei te bedek. Vordering is gemaak met metodes om saad teen steil walle in watersuspensie te spuit — genoem waterhesaaiing, en met grond stabiliserende stowwe. Plastiek sped ‘n vername rol in dié verband. Verdere navorsing is nodig vir die seleksie van grassoorte om steil walle te bedek. Hierdie werk is uitdagend weens die vele probleme wat te bowe gekom moet word voordat ‘n geskikte plantbedekking gevestig word.

Notes

Now c/o Gary Player Enterprises (Pty) Ltd., P.O. Box 4137, Johannesburg.