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Improving Soil Surface Erosion Resistance by Fungal Mycelium

  • Xijin Zhang
  • , Xudong Fan
  • , Chanjuan Han
  • , Chen Wang
  • , Xiong Bill Yu
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Tongji University

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Soil erosion leads to extensive environmental problems and comprises the serviceability of infrastructure, such as bridges. An environmental friendly method to improve soil erosion resistance is highly desirable. This study investigated the performance of a filamentous fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, to improve soil erosion resistance. Experimental results indicate that fungal mycelium fiber and exo-polymers improve the soil particle adhesion and the fiber filaments act as soil reinforcements; both improve the soil erosion resistance. Besides, the hydrophobic surface of fungal mycelium reduces the erosion force by flowing water due to a slipping effect at the interface between water and soil. Consequently, fungi demonstrates unique performance in improve the soil erosion resistance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)523-531
Number of pages9
JournalGeotechnical Special Publication
Volume2020-February
Issue numberGSP 315
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
EventGeo-Congress 2020: Foundations, Soil Improvement, and Erosion - Minneapolis, United States
Duration: Feb 25 2020Feb 28 2020

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