Abstract
Purpose
Herbaceous plants could be an effective measure for soil bioengineering to strengthen the surface soil of the dump. Before the herbaceous plants are planted, selecting suitable herbaceous plants can improve the root reinforcement, and at the same time, it can also ensure long-term soil stability.
Methods
Firstly, a 20 × 20 m rectangular area is selected as the study site and is divided into 16 rectangular areas, each of which has a size of 5 × 5 m. In the center of each 5 × 5 m rectangular area, a 1 m × 1 m rectangular area was selected as the sampling point to investigate the growth characteristics of herbaceous plants. Secondly, the TOPSIS method of introducing weights and Wu-Waldron model are used to calculate the effective root reinforcement of herbaceous plants. Finally, by comparing the value of effective root reinforcement, herbaceous plants suitable for root reinforcement were selected.
Results
The results of the study showed that Plantago depressa has the highest weight in the study site, with a weight value of 0.1971. The root area ratio and root reinforcement of the herbaceous plants decreased with the increase of soil profile depth. By comparing the average value of effective root reinforcement at different depths, the suitable herbaceous plants identified are Artemisia sieversiana, Alopecurus aequalis and Leonurus japonicus.
Conclusions
This study provides a method to select the herbaceous plant species that reinforce the soil in the dump. This method can be applied not only in the dump but also in other areas.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data Availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
References
Bengough AG, McKenzie BM, Hallett PD, Valentine TA (2011) Root elongation, water stress, and mechanical impedance: a review of limiting stresses and beneficial root tip traits. J Exp Bot 62:59–68. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erq350
Bischetti GB, Chiaradia EA, Simonato T, Speziali B, Vitali B, Vullo P, Zocco A (2005) Root strength and root area ratio of forest species in Lombardy (Northern Italy). Plant Soil 278:11–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-0605-4
Bischetti GB, De Cesare G, Mickovski SB, Rauch HP, Schwarz M, Stangl R (2021) Design and temporal issues in soil bioengineering structures for the stabilisation of shallow soil movements. Ecol Eng 169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106309
Bischetti GB, Di Fi DM, Florineth F (2014) On the origin of soil bioengineering. Landsc Res 39:583–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2012.730139
Burger. (2011) Sustainable mined land reclamation in the eastern US coalfields: a case for an ecosystem reclamation approach. In: Proceedings of the National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation,Bismark, ND, USA, pp:113–141. https://doi.org/10.21000/JASMR11010113
Chiaradia EA, Vergani C, Bischetti GB (2016) Evaluation of the effects of three European forest types on slope stability by field and probabilistic analyses and their implications for forest management. For Ecol Manage 370:114–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.03.050
Cislaghi A (2021) Exploring the variability in elastic properties of roots in Alpine tree species. J For Sci (Prague) 67:338–356. https://doi.org/10.17221/4/2021-JFS.
Cislaghi A, Rigon E, Lenzi MA, Bischetti GB (2018) A probabilistic multidimensional approach to quantify large wood recruitment from hillslopes in mountainous-forested catchments. Geomorphology (amst) 306:108–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2018.01.009
Comino E, Marengo P, Rolli V (2010) Root reinforcement effect of different grass species: a comparison between experimental and models results. Soil Tillage Res 110:60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2010.06.006
De Baets S, Poesen J, Reubens B, Wemans K, De Baerdemaeker J, Muys B (2008) Root tensile strength and root distribution of typical Mediterranean plant species and their contribution to soil shear strength. Plant Soil 305:207–226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9553-0
Ennos AR (1990) The anchorage of leek seedlings: the effect of root length and soil strength. Ann Bot 65:409–416. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.aob.a087951
Feng S, Liu HW, Ng CWW (2020) Analytical analysis of the mechanical and hydrological effects of vegetation on shallow slope stability. Comput Geotech 118:103335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103335
Gehring E, Conedera M, Maringer J, Giadrossich F, Guastini E, Schwarz M (2019) Shallow landslide disposition in burnt European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests. Sci Rep 9:8638. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-45073-7
Genet M, Stokes A, Salin F, Mickovski SB, Fourcaud T, Dumail J-F, van Beek R (2005) The influence of cellulose content on tensile strength in tree roots. Plant Soil 278:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-8768-6
Giadrossich F et al (2016) Modeling bio-engineering traits of Jatropha curcas L. Ecol Eng 89:40–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.01.005
Gilardelli F, Chiara V, Rodolfo G, Anne B, Pierre C, Sandra C, Chiaradia EA (2017) Root characteristics of herbaceous species for topsoil stabilization in restoration projects. Land Degrad Dev 28:2074–2085. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2731
Giupponi L, Bischetti GB, Giorgi A (2015) Ecological index of maturity to evaluate the vegetation disturbance of areas affected by restoration work: a practical example of its application in an area of the Southern Alps. Restor Ecol 23:635–644. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12232
Giupponi L, Bischetti GB, Giorgi A (2017) A proposal for assessing the success of soil bioengineering work by analysing vegetation: results of two case studies in the Italian Alps. Landscape and Ecol Eng 13:305–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-016-0323-5
Gonzalez-Ollauri A, Mickovski SB (2017) Plant-Best: a novel plant selection tool for slope protection. Ecol Eng 106:154–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.04.066
Hammond C, Hall D, Miller S, Swetik P (1992) Level I stability analysis (LISA) documentation for version 2.0. General technical report INT ; 285
Hou X, Liu S, Zhao S, Dong S, Sun Y, Beazley R (2019) The alpine meadow around the mining areas on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau will degenerate as a result of the change of dominant species under the disturbance of open-pit mining. Environ Pollut 254:113111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113111
Löbmann MT, Geitner C, Wellstein C, Zerbe S (2020a) The influence of herbaceous vegetation on slope stability – a review. Earth Sci Rev 209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103328
Löbmann MT, Tonin R, Wellstein C, Zerbe S (2020b) Determination of the surface-mat effect of grassland slopes as a measure for shallow slope stability. Catena (Amst) 187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104397
Mao Z et al (2012) Engineering ecological protection against landslides in diverse mountain forests: Choosing cohesion models. Ecol Eng 45:55–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.03.026
Meijer G (2021) A generic form of fibre bundle models for root reinforcement of soil. Plant Soil:1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05039-z
Pollen-Bankhead N, Simon A, Thomas RE (2013) 12.8 The reinforcement of soil by roots: recent advances and directions for future research. In: Treatise on Geomorphology. pp 107–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-374739-6.00325-0
Pollen N, Simon A (2005) Estimating the mechanical effects of riparian vegetation on stream bank stability using a fiber bundle model. Water Resour Res 41. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004wr003801
R (2014) R:A Languang and Environment for Statistical ComputingR Foundation for Statistical Computing wien Austria.
Reubens B, Poesen J, Danjon F, Geudens G, Muys B (2007) The role of fine and coarse roots in shallow slope stability and soil erosion control with a focus on root system architecture: a review. Trees 21:385–402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-007-0132-4
Schiechtl HM (1973) Sicherungsarbeiten im Landschaftsbau. Callwey.
Schiechtl HM (1980) Experience with replanting ski-runs in the Alps. Zeitschrift fur Vegetationstechnik im Landschafts- und Sportstattenbau.
Schwarz M, Cohen D, Or D (2010) Root-soil mechanical interactions during pullout and failure of root bundles. J Geophys Res 115. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009jf001603
Schwarz M, Giadrossich F, Cohen D (2013) Modeling root reinforcement using a root-failure Weibull survival function. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 17:4367–4377. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-4367-2013
Sidle RC, Bogaard TA (2016) Dynamic earth system and ecological controls of rainfall-initiated landslides. Earth Sci Rev 159:275–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2016.05.013
Stokes A, Norris JE, van Beek LPH, Bogaard T, Cammeraat E, Mickovski SB (2008) How Vegetation Reinforces Soil on Slopes. Slope Stability and Erosion Control: Ecotechnological Solutions. Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6676-4_4
Tan H, Chen F, Chen J, Gao Y (2019) Direct shear tests of shear strength of soils reinforced by geomats and plant roots. Geotech Geome 47:780–791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2019.103491
Thompson PJ, Jansen IJ, Hooks CL (1987) Penetrometer resistance and bulk density as parameters for predicting root system performance in mine soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:1288–1293. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1987.03615995005100050035x
Tosi M (2007) Root tensile strength relationships and their slope stability implications of three shrub species in the Northern Apennines (Italy). Geomorphology (amst) 87:268–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.09.019
Vergani C et al (2016) Root reinforcement dynamics in subalpine spruce forests following timber harvest: a case study in Canton Schwyz, Switzerland. Catena (amst) 143:275–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2016.03.038
Vergani C, Werlen M, Conedera M, Cohen D, Schwarz M (2017) Investigation of root reinforcement decay after a forest fire in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) protection forest. For Ecol Manage 400:339–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.06.005
Waldron LJ (1977) The Shear Resistance of Root-Permeated Homogeneous and Stratified. Soil Sci Soc Am J 41:843–849. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1977.03615995004100050005x
Wang X, Hong M-M, Huang Z, Zhao Y-F, Ou Y-S, Jia H-X, Li J (2019) Biomechanical properties of plant root systems and their ability to stabilize slopes in geohazard-prone regions. Soil Tillage Res 189:148–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2019.02.003
Wieder WL, Shoop SA (2018) State of the knowledge of vegetation impact on soil strength and trafficability. J Terramech 78:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jterra.2018.03.006
Wu TH, McKinnell Iii WP, Swanston DN (1979) Strength of tree roots and landslides on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Can Geotech J 16:19–33. https://doi.org/10.1139/t79-003
Ye C, Guo Z, Li Z, Cai C (2017) The effect of Bahiagrass roots on soil erosion resistance of Aquults in subtropical China. Geomorphology 285:82–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2017.02.003
Yoon K, Hwang CL (1981) TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution)–a multiple attribute decision making. In: Multiple attribute decision making–methods and applications, a state-of-the-art survey. Springer, Heidelberg
Yu G-A, Li Z, Yang H, Lu J, Huang HQ, Yi Y (2020) Effects of riparian plant roots on the unconsolidated bank stability of meandering channels in the Tarim River, China. Geomorphology 351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.106958
Zhang C-B, Chen L-H, Jiang J (2014) Why fine tree roots are stronger than thicker roots: The role of cellulose and lignin in relation to slope stability. Geomorphology 206:196–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2013.09.024
Zhang C, Chen L, Jiang J, Zhou S (2012) Effects of gauge length and strain rate on the tensile strength of tree roots. Trees 26:1577–1584. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0732-5
Zhang C, Li D, Jiang J, Zhou X, Niu X, Wei Y, Ma J (2019a) Evaluating the potential slope plants using new method for soil reinforcement program. Catena (amst) 180:346–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.05.008
Zhang C, Zhou X, Jiang J, Wei Y, Ma J, Hallett PD (2019b) Root moisture content influence on root tensile tests of herbaceous plants. Catena (amst) 172:140–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2018.08.012
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Key R&D Projects (Grant No. 2017YFC1503101 and Grant No.2017YFC1503102).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Guoliang Hao: Manuscript writing and revision; data analysis; experimental design and implementation.
Xiangfeng Liu: Manuscript idea design and financial support; experimental design.
Qiang Zhang, Li Xiang, and Bing Yu: Manuscript revision and experiment implementation.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hao, G., Liu, X., Zhang, Q. et al. Optimum Selection of Soil-Reinforced Herbaceous Plants Considering Plant Growth and Distribution Characteristics. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 22, 1743–1757 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00768-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00768-1