Abstract
The stabilization of slopes by vegetation has been a topical issue for many years. Root mechanical characteristics significantly influence soil reinforcement; therefore it is necessary to research into the indicators of root tensile properties. In this study, we explored the influence of root moisture content on tensile resistance and strength with different root diameters and for different tree species. Betula platyphylla, Quercus mongolica, Pinus tabulaeformis, and Larix gmelinii, the most popular tree species used for slope stabilization in the rocky mountainous areas of northern China, were used in this study. A tensile test was conducted after root samples were grouped by diameter and moisture content. The results showedthat:1) root moisture content had a significant influence on tensile properties; 2) slightly loss of root moisture content could enhance tensile strength, but too much loss of water resulted in weaker capacity for root elongation, and consequently reduced tensile strength; 3) root diameter had a strong positive correlation with tensile resistance; and4) the roots of Betula platyphylla had the best tensile properties when both diameter and moisture content being controlled. These findings improve our understanding of root tensile properties with root size and moisture, and could be useful for slope stabilization using vegetation.
Highlights
Slope stabilization by vegetation is an environment-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable engineering measure
Properties was significant in the case of tensile resistance (F(5, 80) = 127.02, P
A high R squared value indicated that the power function can predict root tensile resistance well on the basis of root diameter for all root moisture content stages; the model fitting degrees for H6 and H7 were relatively low compared to those for high water
Summary
Slope stabilization by vegetation is an environment-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable engineering measure. The main factors contributing to slope stability include soil shear strength, soil-root interactions, the quantity and distribution of roots, as well as root tensile properties[1,2,3,4].Woody plants can reinforce soil by intertwining and exerting traction on the soil mass (in the case of lateral and fine roots) and by penetrating and anchoring into the ground (in the case of vertical and thick roots) [5,6,7]. Many studies have demonstrated that root traits have a significant influence on root tensile properties, as do species, site condition, seasons of year, planting mode, and experimental displacement rate[4, 9,10,11]. Length, sinuosity, decay rate, orientation, and topology; they play an important role in hydrologic, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0151791 March 22, 2016
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