Abstract
The effects of Chrysopogon zizanioides (vetiver) on the hydrophysical properties of soils and infiltration rate have been determined. Thus, it has been examined the stabilization to prevent soil erosion using vetiver in slopes, studying a field case of selected grounds at Guatemala. The particle size analysis of the soil samples showed a predominant sand fraction and a plasticity index of 7.9 %. The results indicated that these soils were fairly acid with worthless salinity and non-swelling. The specific surface area, determined by nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, ranged from 11.7 - 15.5 m2 /g and the pore sizes between 17-160 µm, which changed to 20-100 µm, with predominant pore size around 40 µm after cultivation. The characteristics of the soils showed the presence of cohesion (2.05 t/m2) and an internal friction angle Ф = 31.69º. After the plantation, it has been found a decrease in the cohesion and an increase of the internal friction angle. The sowing of vetiver affected the infiltration characteristics of the soil. An analysis using the Kostiakov-Lewis classical model, with a mathematical fitting, has been performed. From these results, it has been deduced that the slope protected using this plant diminished its infiltration rate, being associated to the compaction caused by the plant roots. The present results demonstrated that the plantation of vetiver is effective to stabilize and prevent slopes from the soil erosion caused by severe rainfall events.
Highlights
The plant Chrysopogon zizanioides L. has been used to the improvement of contaminated soils with heavy metals, for instance in India [1,2] and Thailand [3], or diesel polluted soils in Israel [4]
Different treatments of fertilization, following this methodology of phytoremediation, have been applied in China in soils affected by the contamination of mines activity [5]. Concerning this subject of investigations, Dahn et al [6] observed that there was other species more effective in the treatment of heavy metals, these had the capacity to progress in extreme conditions and quite efficient in the biodegradation of organic wastes
Wilde et al [9] reported that the fertilization of the cultivation improved the extraction of heavy metals from the soils
Summary
The plant Chrysopogon zizanioides L. has been used to the improvement of contaminated soils with heavy metals, for instance in India [1,2] and Thailand [3], or diesel polluted soils in Israel [4]. Different treatments of fertilization, following this methodology of phytoremediation, have been applied in China in soils affected by the contamination of mines activity [5] Concerning this subject of investigations, Dahn et al [6] observed that there was other species more effective in the treatment of heavy metals, these had the capacity to progress in extreme conditions and quite efficient in the biodegradation of organic wastes. Mckovski and van Beek [12] studied the root morphology and effects on soils reinforcement and slope stability of Vetiver, with the plants grown in a semi-arid climate. They reported the effects of this plant to reduce contamination and to decrease the erosion, studying the evolution of parameters such as cohesion and internal friction. There are reports that studied the conditions of development of vetiver to prevent the erosion of contaminated soils by heavy metals [1, 12]
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