Revegetation of the GRA ring road slopes in Rome with HYDROMAT® MFL
On the slopes of Rome’s Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) ring road, the soil surface was protected from erosion with HYDROMAT® MFL, a bonded fibre matrix applied by hydroseeding. Two months after application, the slope shows a dense, even grass cover.
Task
Protect road slopes from surface erosion while vegetation establishes, and support their revegetation.
The problem: road slopes exposed to erosion
A newly graded road slope has no vegetation cover at the very moment it is most vulnerable. Heavy rain and runoff strip away fine soil, cut rills and wash seed and fertiliser downhill: revegetation slows down and the slope needs further work.
On the slopes of Rome’s Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA) ring road, surface protection was provided by HYDROMAT® MFL, the bonded fibre matrix supplied by Full Service and applied by hydroseeding.
The solution: a bonded fibre matrix applied by spraying
HYDROMAT® MFL is mixed with water and applied with standard hydroseeding equipment fitted with mechanical agitators. Seed and fertiliser are added to the same slurry, so protection and seeding take place in a single pass, with no prior soil preparation. As it dries, the product forms a continuous, flexible cover that follows every irregularity of the surface.
- Composition: thermally treated virgin wood fibres (86%), organic binder (10%), synthetic fibres (3%), mineral activator (1%).
- Water retention: up to 13 times its own weight, with gradual release of moisture to support germination.
- Application rate: 300 to 450 g/m², depending on slope gradient, soil type and climate.
Unlike erosion control blankets, the matrix needs no manual laying or anchoring: a real advantage on long, steep or hard-to-reach slopes.
Application on the GRA
Immediately after treatment, the slope is fully covered by the green matrix. At this stage the matrix cushions raindrop impact and holds the soil in place while the seed germinates within it. The protection is temporary: as root systems develop, the vegetation progressively takes over the erosion control function.
The result after two months
Two months after application, the same slope shows a dense, even grass cover across the entire documented surface. The project was featured in 2012 in the Italian publication Dossier Veneto, in a report on Full Service technologies.
Assessment for your project
For road and railway slopes, hillsides, embankments, quarries and landfills, the Full Service technical department selects the erosion control system, application rate and slurry composition according to gradient, substrate, exposure and revegetation targets. Request technical advice.
Full Service can meet every request by recommending the most suitable product for each situation, after assessing the pedological, lithological, morphological and climatic conditions that determine the choice of the most suitable system and components.