Coconut Coir Net Integrated with Tropical Kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides) Seeds for Slope Protection

This study describes the development of tropical kudzu seeds incorporated in the coconut coir net (coconet) twines as a potential improvement in the installation of geonets for slope protection. The performance of the system was determined by installing the net (2x3m) in a sloping (40-45%) plot using a 32 factorial experiment. The three factors are fertilizer (with and without), seed spacing (152x152mm and 305x305mm), and seeding (direct seeding and integrated into the net) with three replications. Response variables were germination rate, vegetation index, and the volume of soil collected. Results showed that the average germination rate ranged from 51% to 84%. The highest germination rate yielded from the treatment with no fertilizer and integrated into the net. The average vegetation index for all treatments was more than 92% for the 12-week duration. Unfortunately, no soil particles were collected due to the low rainfall during the conduct of the study. In the long run, the coconet incorporated with tropical kudzu is found to be a more economical slope protection solution as it will not require regular re-installation as compared to a regular coconet. Furthermore, it is recommended to further study the establishment of tropical kudzu considering a longer period of time and actual slope protection setup.