Tensile Characteristics of Polygonaceae Weed Roots in Slope Collapse Watershed

Abstract

Root systems, as the reinforced materials, are essential to increase slope stability and mitigate soil erosion. Polygonaceae family weeds are widespread in slope collapse watershed for its rapid growth and hardiness. Some growing around farmlands and ditches affect the farm crop yield. While others growing in slope collapse have medicinal value, revegetation, and root reinforcement effect. The plant height, fresh weight and expansion range of aboveground biomass and roots were measured to research the relationship between the aboveground biomass and the belowground biomass. The relationship between the aboveground biomass fresh weight and root system fresh weight was consistent with linear function. Single root was tested by digital display push-tension meter (SH-100) fixed in vertical electrical machine (SJY-500) to obtain the relationship between tensile force and root diameter. The relationship between tensile force and root diameter conformed to exponential decay function. At last, the relationship between root diameter classes and average tensile force of Polygonaceae family weeds was analyzed. The result showed that the diameters mainly ranged from 0 mm to 2 mm, 87.75% of the total, and the average tensile force increased with the diameter class. At the beginning, the shape of tensile force was a line, then a curved line during pulling, which deformation was nonlinear. It could provide a scientific basis for design of weeder in farmland, and greening, erosion control in slope collapse.