COIR GEOTEXTILES ARE ECO FRIENDLY AND ECONOMICAL SOLUTION FOR SOIL EROSION

Kerala State Coir Corporation is the nodal agency of the government of Kerala for the implementation coir Geotextiles Development Program. The corporation has a separate division for geotextiles with well experienced engineers and skilled technicians. Corporation can take up any challenges in the use of coir Geotextiles for any application owing to its affiliation with reputed research centres in India. Coir geo textile is a natural solution to large scale soil erosion / soil degradation. It has achieved wide acceptance all over the world. As a natural product, Coir geo textiles are bio-degradable and environment friendly. Studies conducted in geo-textiles have indicated that coir is better preferred, as compared to jute or other natural materials owing to certain characteristics like durability, wat strength, hairy surface etc. It enables vegetation to take root on the applied area thus making the bonding of the soil very strong. They are ideal for application on hill slopes, road and rail embankments, mines Etc.

Coir Geotextiles can be classified as woven and nonwoven, based on the method of manufacture. These can be further classified as below. A.Woven Geotextiles a. Coir mesh mattings of two shaft weave. b. Coir woven fabric with loop construction c. Coir bags made with latex backed coir matting. B. Non-Woven Geotextiles a. Coco logs b. Coir fibre beds c. Coir needle felts. C.Woven Geotextiles a. Coir mesh mattings of two shaft weave

This is the simplest form of coir geotextiles and is manufactured on traditional handlooms using 2 shaft weaving techniques. Used primarily for erosion control applications, these are available in 10 varieties with fixed quality specifications stipulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

These 10 varieties are made available for different intensities of rainfall, types of soil, slopes of surface etc. These varieties can be identified based on weight per Sq. meter, type of yarn, no. of strands etc... b. Coir woven fabrics with loop construction Primarily used for soil stabilization, this type is woven in rolls using technique of loop mat weaving. c. Coir bags made with latex backed coir matting This type is used mostly to control sea erosion and as a substitute for huge granite boulders which involve high labour and transportation costs. Designed to withstand powerful waves, thick ribbed matting with latex backing is used for this application. The bags are stitched with the latex facing inwards. The usual bag size is 6 ft x 4 ft. Non Woven Geo textiles a. Coco logs Shaped like a wooden log, Coco Logs are coir fibre thickly filled inside tube shaped coir netting. The diameter of the Coco Log varies from 15 to 50 CM and come in lengths of 2 to 6 meters. These are mainly used for absorbing the impact of waves in erosion prone areas.

The main area of application is stream bank protection against wave splashing and erosion control. Advantages: The natural product combination will support the development of plants in distributed wet land areas. By the eco-friendly application of natural materials, we are able to restore nature which has been violated by other forces. Coir logs are identified based on its density as low, medium and high. b. Coir fibre beds Here mesh mattings are stitched together to form a pouch and then filled with coir fibre. The ends are stitched to form fibre beds, the thickness of which vary from 10 to 25 cms as per the requirement. They are mainly used as wave energy dissipaters. c. Coir needle felts These are pads made by interlocking coir fibre through needling. These felt pads can be used for low cost acoustic control, air & water filtration, thermal insulation, and also for soil erosion control.

Specification of CCGM (Three varieties, As per International standards) Sl. Characteristics

1. Material 2. Construction 3. Weight at 20% M.R. (in gsm) 4. Maximum length (Mtr) 5. Width (in cm) 6. Ends / dm 7. Picks / dm 8. Thickness (in mm) 9. Aperture size (in mm) 10. Minimum breaking Load (in kN/m) (Dry) Machine direction( Wrap way) Cross direction (Weft way) 11. Maximum elongation At break (in %) Machine direction (Wrap way) Cross direction (Wrap way) 12. Minimum breakingLoad (in kN/m) (Wet)

Type1 Type2 Type3

100 % natural coir fibre Plain weave 900 700 400 (H2M9) (H2M8) (H2M6) 50 50 50 120 to 300 13.00 11.00 4.60 7.00 7.00 4.60 8.59 6.34 7.57 5 x 10 7 x 10 20 x 20 27.25 10.62 31 30 21 8.5 20.34 9.52 22 33 20 8.5 10.30 9.70 22 33 7.5 7.4

Machine direction Cross direction 55 45

13. Maximum elongationAt break (in %)

Machine direction Cross direction

52 42

35 35

Project

Material

1. Use of Coir Geotextiles as silt fence erosion -Woven coir geotextiles control material in water shed management at Kambanmettu in Idukki district in association with Malanadu Development societyKanjirappally, Kottayam, Kerala 2. Canal side embankment protection in Thrissur District of Kerala in association with Kole Development Agency in Kerala. 3. Bund protection in Perumpadappu Block Panchayat in Malappuram District of Kerala. 4. Coir geotextiles as a French Drain in road Construction in Beypore Calicut, Kerala. 5. Use of coir geotextiles for revegation of degraded forest land at Peerumedu in association with Peerumadu Development Society, Idukki, Kerala. 6. Use of Coir geotextiles for filtration and drainage beneath a rigid pavement at Lemeridian hotel complex, Cochin, Kerala. -Woven coir geotextiles

- Woven coir geotextiles

-Woven coir geotextiles -Woven coir geotextiles

- Non- woven coir geotextiles

7. Village road embankment stabilization over - Woven Coir geotextiles soft soil in Kinakiry of Kerala in association with Central Road Research Institute, Delhi. 8. Mine waste dump protection of Iron or - Non- woven coir geotextiles mines of Sesa Goa (Soushi & Codli Mines) 9. Embankment slope protection of R O B of NH-5 at Ongole Andhra Pardesh. - Non- woven coir geotextiles