Unit : 10: Bio Engineering

Introduction:
Bio - Engineering is a technique in which living vegetation either alone or in
combination with small scale civil engineering structure or non-living plants
materials are used to protect the slope from erosion and landslide.
It is always not possible to use engineering practices alone for slope stabilization. In
many cases engineering technique are expensive and bio - engineering is only the
solution for some problem where civil engineering solution are not possible
Vegetation used in bio-engineering can be woody or non woody.
Advantages of bio - engineering
i. It is economic.
ii. It is simple and easy technique.
iii. It protects all types of slopes and erosion.
iv. It is physically flexible.
v. It is environment friendly.
vi. It is only the solution where civil engineering solution is not possible.
vii.It improves surface drainage.
Disadvantages of Bio-engineering
i. It is not able to function in initial stage.
ii. Root may penetrate sub-structure, Foundation drains.
iii. It may block the waterway with the growth of plants.

iv. It needs after care and regular maintenance.

Function of bio engineering:

 Engineering function
i. Catch foundation :
Holding a thin layer of erosive soil particles and debris by multi-stemmed
shurbs and bamboos.
ii. Armor function :
Protecting soil surface from movement.
iii. Reinforce function :
Providing strength by binding soil particles of dense rooted plants.
iv. Support function :
Supporting to the soil mass from downward and outward movement by root of
plants.

85
V. Anchor function :
Keeping the soil particles and debris by anchoring action of deep long and
strong root of tree and shrubs.
Vi. Drain Function :
Providing easy drainage of water accumulated in slope area by vegetating
plant in line.
 Hydrological Function
i. Interception : Rain water strikes the leaves before striking the ground.
ii. Evaporation : Water may evaporate from the leaves surface.
iii. Storage : Water is held on the leaves and stem for some time before it
eventually reaches the ground.
iv. Leaf drip : Accumulated water can drip off the leaves and fall to the ground.
v. Pool formation : Water running over the ground surface may be trapped by st
ems and run off prevented , pool will form on the surface.
vi. Infiltration : The ground Is roughened and loosened by stem and roots ,
enabling water to infiltrate more easily.
vii.Water uptake : Water is taken in the plant through the root and return to the
atmosphere by the process of transpiration which is the release of water through
leaves.

Causes and mechanism of slope failure

# Causes of slope failure
1. Rain fall : It is the main agent of debris flow.
2. Earthquake : It is the major reason of slope failure.
3. Ground water : Ground water increases pore water pressure at depth given
rise to failure.
4. Surface run off : Continuous flow of surface runoff may causes the erosion of
the surface.
5. Weathering : It is the failure cause by weather change. Physical bond
between constituents of rock are weakened and broken due to weathering..
6. Undercutting : river and stream undercut their banks and failure of the bank
may occur.
7. Surcharge : addition of weight due to deposits of snow or falling of rock may
cause the slope failure.

86
# Mechanism of slope failure
1. EROSION: it is the removal of earth surface particle by running water
A) SHEET EROSION:
The removal of fairly uniform layer of soil from the land surface is called
sheet erosion.
B) RILL EROSION:
Channel made by running water of shallow depth is called rill erosion.
C) GULLEY EROSION:
Water accumulate in narrow channel and remove the soil from the narrow area
to a considerable depth, this type of erosion is called gulley erosion. Once
drainage channel is formed, they can rapidly enlarge into gulley.
D) EROSION BY PIPING:
This type of erosion is removal of fine particles along and underground
channel. Percolating ground water in permeable soil can remove the fine
particles along a fissure to a point where an underground stream is formed.
The roof of these underground streams cannot withstand the load of soil above
it and fails.

2. PLANAR SLIDING:
It is the slope failure of soil mass on a shallow slip plane parallel to the surface.
This is the most common type of soil failure. In this type of soil failure, the affected
depth vary from 0.5 to 3 m
3. ROTATIONAL SLIDING:
In this type of sliding, the soil mass fails on slope up to a considerable depth larger
than 1.5m. Generally soil fails in curved slip plane.
4. Slumping:
Slumping is the sudden flow of soil material due to poor cohesion between the
particles.
5. Debris fall :
Debris fall occurs due to failure of supporting material.
6. Debris flow :
In gully and small river channel, debris flow along with the flowing water due to
heavy rainfall.

87
7. Disintegration:
Disintegration is the process of removal of surface particles from their parent
material. Disintegration generally occurs in the rock due to weathering action.

Relative strength of structure overtime

As the strength of civil engineering structure decreases, the strength of bio
engineering structure increases over time.
Civil engineering structure

Bio engineering

The graph shows the comparison of relative strength between bio engineering
structures and civil engineering structures.

There are three options for the solution of slope instability.

1. Civil engineering structure alone
2. Bio engineering structure alone
3. Combination of both
Depending upon the complexities of site and problems, different technique whether
bio engineering, civil engineering or combination of both are required.

Small scale civil engineering structure

1. Retaining wall: it contributes for the support of mountain side slope on road,
slope from the valley side.
2. Revetment wall: they are constructed to protect the base of the slope from
undermining or other damage like damage by animals. They give protection but not
support and this type of wall are generally not used on large and unstable type of
slope.

88
3. Prop wall: they are used in very steep slope to support block of harder rock
where they are underlined by soft rocks. It does not provide support but they stop
the erosion of soft rock, below the hard rocks.
4. Check dam: it is simple physical barrier constructed to prevent the down cutting
by runoff water. It may also be applied with bio engineering technique.
5. Surface and sub-surface drainage: surface drain is constructed on the surface
of slope to remove surface water quickly. Cascades are surface drain constructed to
bring water down on the steep section of slope. Subsurface drain is constructed to
remove ground water quickly and efficiently.
6. Stone pitching: the surface of slope is covered by stone. It provides the surface
water to drain freely and protect the surface from erosion. It is also suitable on slope
with heavy seepage problem where there is difficult to apply bio - engineering
technique.
7. Wire bluster cylinder: they are the tube of 300 mm dia. filled with stone. They
are laid in shallow trench across the slope. They prevent from surface scouring and
formation of gulley.
Vegetative system:
Vegetative system is classified as
I. Seed :
There are two types of seed system:
A. Broad casting
B. Sowing
II. Seedling
A. Grass plantation
B. Tree plantation
C. Shrub plantation
A. Grass plantation :
Grass seedling is planted in line on slope. They will protect slope with their
roots by providing the surface cover. According to the configuration of lining of
plants, they are classified as;
 Contour or horizontal grass line
 Vertical or down slope line
 Diagonal line
 Random line
B. Tree plantation or shrub plantation :

89
 Shrub and trees are planted at regular interval on the slope. As they grow they
create a dense network of roots, the main function of trees/shrubs plantation are to
reinforce or later to anchor the soil.
III. Cutting :
Cutting of matured plants are laid in the line across the slope following are one
method of cutting laying:
a. Brush laying: woody cutting are laid in the line across the slope following the
contour. They prevent from rill formation and trap the materials moving down the
slope. It also reinforces the slope and catches the debris.
b. Palisades: woody cutting of hardwood are used along the contour. These cutting
from a strong barrier and trap the moving material in certain location they can be
placed in some angle for the drainage of water.
c. Live wattle: fence made of cutting are placed across the slope. Debris moving
down the slope is trapped by them. This is relatively poor technique.
d. Fascines: Fascines are bundle of branches of trees laid in a shallow trench. They
putout root forming a strong line vegetation. The main engineering function is to
catch the debris and armor the slope.
# Interaction between plant and civil engineering structure
i. Life span of vegetative structure

ii. Life span of small civil engineering structure

90
 100
90

relative strength of
80
70

structure(%)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40

years

iii. Combine life span

From above graph we can conclude that the civil engineering system get its early
strength but as the elapses reduces its strength. At the same time where we use bio
engineering system properly the strength increase up to limit although early strength
is zero.
Selection of species
The basic factors that lead to the special distribution of plants are as follows:
1. Ecological zone :
Eg. ‘Saal’ is easily available in Terai, ‘ Salla' in Kathmandu. So ‘Saal’ is
selected for the best option for Terai.
2. Altitudinal variation :
Depending upon the variation on altitude different types of vegetative systems
are available.
 Tropical zone ( up to 1000m )
Saaj, Saal, Sisau, mango, Pipal, ashok etc.
 Sub tropical zone
East -------- 1000 to 1700 m
West------- 1000 to 2000 m
Eg . Katus, Chilauney etc.
 Lower temperature zone
East ------------- 1700 to 2400 m
West ----------- 1000 to 2700 m
Eg . chilaune , laligurans , dhupi , salla

91
 A. Upper - temperature zone East ------------- 2400 to 2800 m
West------------ 2700 to 3000 m
Eg. Chipalu , dhupi , one species of salla , bhojpatrey , siru , chutro , aaiselu
etc.
B. Sub alpine
East -----------2800 to 5000 m
West ---------3000 to 4200 m
Very small vegetation, eg. Dhupi , laligurans , deodar , gobre etc.
C. Above snowline Very very small for eg . fern , gwears.
3. Availability of moisture :
Some plants may be moisture loving (eg. Dhode), some plants may require less
moisture ( babiyo, khar ).
4. Local species :
Whatever the climatic zone, the major emphasis should be given to locally
available plants.
5. Availability :
At required time, in required quantity in affordable cost.
6. Ease of propagation :
Easy to prepare more plants from planting from parents.
7. Persistence :
- long life plants type
- perennial type
- never use annual plant like maize
8. Growth characteristics
- need to be grown in single season.
- also to survive in dry month

9. Community participation
- Cash crop which benefits community
Propagation method:
Plant propagation is the process of artificially or naturally propagating (distributing
or spreading) plants. Types of plant propagation
 Sexual propagation - involve the exchange of genetic material between parents
to produce a new generation.
 Asexual propagation – does not exchange of genetic material, so it almost
always produces plants that are identical to a single parents.
92
Sexual propagation offers the following advantages
 It is usually the only method of producing new varieties.
 It is often the cheap and easy method to produce large number of plants.
 It can be a way to avoid certain plants disease.
 It may be only way to propagate some species.
Collection and method:
 Purchasing seed is the most common method used by gardener.
 Gardeners also collect seed.
 Seed may also be harvested from healthy plant.
 After harvesting seeds, they must be properly stored.
 The germination of seed is the next important step.
 Some seed required stratification in order to germinate.
 Stratification is exposing some seeds to lower temperature and moisture
 Sowing seed indoor is the cheapest and easiest way to grow certain plants.
 Growing media is the material in which plant are grown.
 There are many types of container used for starting seedling.
 The correct time of sowing seeds is an important step in indoor seed starting.
 There are many factors in the case of seedling started indoor.Seed may also be
sown directly into the garden.
 Spores are a type of seed produced by plants like fern.
Purchasing seed
 It's best to purchase seed for current year.
 Package generally provide germination rate.
 65 % to 80 % seed will be germinated of that number 60 % to 75% will produce
seedling.
 Seed catalogs are very helpful in providing information on bloom time,
germination requirement, cultural requirement and disease resistance.
# Asexual Propagation
It includes cutting, layering, grafting and budding.
 Cutting :
Cutting involves rooting a served piece of the plant.
Types of cutting
I. Leaf cutting and leaf budding cutting
II. Stem cutting
III. Root cutting
 Layering :

93
 Layering involves rooting of a part of a parent and severing it.
Types of layering
I. Tip layering
II. Air layering
 Budding & grafting :
It is joining two plant parts from different varieties.
Selection of optimal technique (most favorable technique)
There are generally two approaches
I. General approach
II. Detailed approach

General approach:
In this process, general assignment of site is made where the problem of site could
be identified based on those, certain treatment can be recommended:
a. If certain portion of the site is overhang - trimmed if off.
b. If there are alternate bonds of hard and soft rock with the exposure of hard layer
due to differential weathering – use prop wall.
c. If there are pot holes , cavities and fissure on any parts of slope - detention wall
d. If the slope is too long, threatening to out ward and downward moment - toe wall
and some retaining structure.
e. If there are loose unconsolidated debris with many broken stories - grass
broadcasting.
Detailed approach:
Detailed information can be collected as:
Site characteristics
Condition of water, material type, causes and mechanism of slope failure, shape
and size of slope
Finalization of site type
 Those site which can be treated with vegetative system with use of engineering
system.
 Those site which can be treated but with large scale civil engineering structure.
 Those site which can be treated with civil engineering structure with use of
vegetative system.
 Those site are not worthy for immediate treatment
a. Proper selection of optimal technique
- slope angle
94
< 30° ------- shallow seated problem
> 45° ------- possesses serious erosion
- slope lengt > 15m ------ more problems of erosion and failure.
b. Aspects ( N , S , NE , NW , S , E , SW )
- orientation of site - reflects moisture characteristics of slope.
c. Drainage condition
- should be checked and regularly inspected.

95