Soil microclimatology under a jute netting: the example of a mountain road embankment

Abstract

The principal aim of revegetating embankments is to control erosion. In order to fix the soil, biodegradable materials are often placed on the ground before the start of revegetation procedures. A measuring device was set up on the upstream embankment of a mountain road (La Bérarde, Isère Dept., France) for studying the influence of jute netting on germination factors (temperature, humidity). The jute does have a significant effect on both factors, by conferring to the soil a type of behaviour similar to vegetation.