Performance of Soil-Root System of Setaria viridis Community in Soil Reinforcement and Slope Protection on the Water-Level-Fluctuation Belt in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

Abstract:

The soil-root system formatted by plant roots and soil has a good effect in soil reinforcement and slope protection. Setaria viridis is a common species distributing in the three gorges reservoir region. In order to determine the performance of the species in soil reinforcement and slope protection and its variation characteristics on the water-level-fluctuation belt, we tested the tensile strength, anti-scouribility, anti-erodibility and shear resistance of the community soil-root systems. The results showed that the root system of S. viridis community grew better with the increase of altitude under the influence of water level fluctuation. The soil - root system of S. viridis community has an effect on soil reinforcement and slope protection. Its tensile strength of roots ranged from 60 to 90 Kpa/mm2,and its anti-scouribility enhancement coefficient, soil anti-erodibility enhancement coefficient and shear strength of soil-root system reached 0.15 to 0.90, 0.30 to 0.73, and 9 to 24 Kpa respectively. Its effects in soil reinforcement increased with the altitude increases. The correlation analysis indicated that the effects related significantly with root biomass. It is concluded that spatial changes of effects of soil-root systems in its soil reinforcement and slope protection might result from difference of root growth caused by water level fluctuation.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 773)
• Pages: 794-799
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.773.794
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Jun Hua Mao, Jin Xia Zhang, Fang Qing Chen
• Keywords: Root Biomass, Soil-Root System, Soil-Root System Anti-Erodibility, Soil-Root System Anti-Scouribility, Three Gorges Reservoir Region

References

[1] Wang Yong, Li Enhua, Wu Jinqing: A Preliminary Study on the Vascular Plant Flora of the Water-Level-Fluctuating Zone in the Three-Gorge Reservoir Area, Journal of Wuhan Botanical Research, Vol. 20-4(2002), pp.265-274.

[2] DiaoChengtai, HuangJinhong: A Preliminaty Study on Land Resources of the Water-level-fluctuating Zone in the Three-Gorces Reservior, Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, Vol. 8-1(1999), pp.75-80.

[3] Brooks S.S., Lake P.S. : River restoration in Victoria Australia. Change is in the wind and none too soon. Restoration Ecol. Vol. 15(2007), p.584–591.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-100x.2007.00253.x

[4] Norris J.E., Cammeraat L.H., Stokes A., et al: The use of vegetation to improve slope stability. Geotechnical and GeologicalEngineering, Vol. 24(2006), p.427–428.

[5] Hession W.C., Pizzuto J.E., Johnson T.E., et al.: Influence of bank vegetation on channel morphology in rural and urban watersheds. Geology, Vol. 31(2003) p.147–150.

DOI: 10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0147:iobvoc>2.0.co;2

[6] Chen Fangqing, Li Yong, Xu Wennian: The Morphological Responses and Endurance of Polygonum hydropiper to Flooding Stress, Journal of Wuhan Botanical Research, Vol. 26-2(2008), pp.142-146.

[7] Genet M., Kokutse N., Stokes A., et al. : Root reinforcement in plantations of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don: effect of tree age and stand structure on slope stability. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 256(2008), p.1517–1526.

DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2008.05.050

[8] De Baets S, Poesen J, Gyssels G., et al. Effect of grass roots on the erodibility of top soils during concentrated flow. Geomorphology, Vol. 76(2006), p.54–67.

DOI: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.10.002

[9] De Baets S, Poesen J., Knapen A., et al. Impact of root architecture on the erosion-reducing potential of roots during concentrated flow. Earth Surf Process Landform, Vol. 33(2007), p.1948-(1963).

DOI: 10.1002/esp.1470

[10] Wang Qiang, Yuan Xingzhong, Liu Hong: Plant communities in newly created wetlands in water-level fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir after flooding to156m height, edited by Chinese Journal of Ecology, Vol. 28-11(2009), pp.2183-2188.

[11] Wang Minghua, Yan Echuan: Study on influence of reservoir water impounding on reservoir landslide, edited by Rock and Soil Mechanics, Vol. 28-12(2007), pp.2722-2725.

[12] Yuan Hui, Wang Li-ao, Zan Yanhui: Heal the Valuation System of the Water-level-fluctuation Zone in the Three Gorges Area, edited by Resources and Environment in the Yangtze Basin, Vol. 15-2(2006), pp.249-253.

[13] Yang Fengwei, Liu xiu-ping: The Construction and Application of Strength Measurement Curve of Abies fabric Root System with Pull-out Methodf, edtied by Research of soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 2(2007), pp.197-199.

[14] Xu Shaojun, Zeng Bo: Enhancement Effects of 5 Flooding
tolerant Species Rootson Soil Anti-erodibility inThree Gorges Reservoir Region , edtied by Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, Vol. 22-6(2008).

[15] Hu Bo, Zhang Pingcang, Ren Hongyu: Study on Vegetation Ecological Characteristics of Falling Zone in Three Gorges Reservoir, edited by Journal of Yangteze River Scientific Research Institute, Vol. 27-11(2010). pp.81-85.

[16] Yang Chaodong, Zhang Xia, Xiang Jiayun: Plant Communities and Distribution Patternsin Riparian Zones of Three Gorge Reservoir Area, , Journal of Anhui Agri. Sci., Vol. 36-31(2008), pp.13795-13796, 13866.

[17] Zhou Yue. Vegetation and erosion control: Exploration on Basic Principle of Slope Engineering. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, (2000), pp.297-300.

[18] Abernethy B., Rutherfurd I. The effect of riparian tree roots on the mass stability of riverbanks. Earth Surf Process Landform, 2000, 25: 921–937.

DOI: 10.1002/1096-9837(200008)25:9<921::aid-esp93>3.0.co;2-7

[19] Hubblea T.C.T., Docker B.B., Rutherfurdb I.D. The role of riparian trees in maintaining riverbank stability: A review of Australian experience and practice. Ecological Engineering, 2009, doi: 10. 1016/j. ecoleng. (2009).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.04.006

[20] Pollen N. Temporal and spatial variability in root reinforcement of streambanks: Accounting for soil shear strength and moisture. Catena, 69: 197–205(2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2006.05.004

[21] Stokes A., Norris J. E., van Beek L.P.H., et al. How Vegetation Reinforces Soil on Slopes. Slope Stability and Erosion Control: Ecotechnological Solutions. Springer Netherlands，(2008).

DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-6676-4_4