[A-GE34] Subsurface Mass Transport and Environmental Assessment

[AGE34-P11] Assessment of Natural Latex Application Methods for Soil Infiltration and Erosion Control: A Preliminary Study

*Hiroaki Somura¹, Koki Kumamoto¹, Yasushi Mori¹, Jun Kano¹ (1.Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University)

Keywords:Small scale experiment, Thailand agricultural soil, Ishigaki Island agricultural soil, Environmental conservation

Thailand is the world's largest producer of natural latex, which is widely used in the automobile industry. However, the effective utilization of surplus latex remains a challenge, leading to economic instability for local farmers. Given its high film-forming ability and elasticity, natural latex has the potential to aggregate soil particles, which may contribute to mitigating soil erosion, particularly in agricultural fields. In our previous study, small-scale rainfall simulator experiments demonstrated that latex enhances water infiltration by promoting soil particle aggregation, suggesting its potential for soil erosion control. However, those experiments were conducted under a fully mixed latex-soil condition, which does not directly reflect real agricultural applications. To explore more practical application methods, this study evaluated two alternative settings: (1) a spray application, simulating latex distribution using watering tractors or sprinklers, and (2) a surface-layer application, where latex-mixed soil forms a thin protective layer on the surface. The experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, including a rainfall intensity of 20 mm/hour, a latex-soil mixture ratio of 0.1% by volume, and a 5-degree slope. The results showed that, at this experimental scale, neither application method significantly improved water infiltration or reduced soil erosion compared to the fully mixed condition. While natural latex has potential for erosion control in agricultural fields, further investigations are necessary. Future studies should explore optimized application techniques and assess long-term effects under more varied and realistic field conditions to fully understand the potential of natural latex in agricultural soil management.