During construction of a new copper mine in Central America, fragmented rock waste along a 35.4 km access road created steep, highly erodible slopes with little organic matter or nutrients. Profile® Products specified ProGanics® Biotic Soil Media™ and Flexterra® HP-FGM® with Brachiaria decumbens seed, fertilizer, JumpStart™, Aqua-pHix® and site-specific soil testing to build soil and control erosion. ProGanics BSM supplied organic matter and soil-building components, while Flexterra HP-FGM delivered immediate, long-lasting protection and strong bonding on wet, windy slopes. The system established germination in 5 days, dense grass in 2 months and sustainable vegetation through the second year.
Key Points
- Steep slopes formed from mine tailings and alkaline rock waste (pH = 7.5) required vegetation establishment and erosion control without environmental impacts along a 35.4 km roadway.
- Solution combined soil testing, Brachiaria decumbens (signal grass) seed, 15-15-15 fertilizer, JumpStart and Aqua-pHix with ProGanics BSM at 5,500 Kg/Ha (4,900 lbs/acre) and Flexterra HP-FGM at 5,000 Kg/Ha (4,500 lbs/acre).
- Vegetation germinated in just five days, formed a dense stand of grass in two months, and maintained sustainable vegetative cover into the second year of growth.
- ProGanics provided crucial organic material and soil-building components, while Flexterra HP-FGM offered immediate, long-lasting erosion protection, strong mechanical and chemical bonding, and near perfect erosion control when applied over ProGanics.
