Influence of slope on root system anchorage of Pinus yunnanensis

Sun, Hui; Li, Shaocai; Xiong, Wen-Lan; Yang, Zhipeng; Cui, Baoshan; Tao-Yang,

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2007.09.002

Cited by 49 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The anchorage of roots and improvement of slope stability mainly depend on specific properties of root systems, such as root distribution. It has been reported that root systems are not only able to respond locally to mechanical stimulation, but can also lead to the modification of root traits to improve anchorage strength (Jaffe 1973;Gartner 1994;Goodman and Ennos 1996Di Iorio et al 2005;Sun et al 2008). However, until recently, little information was available on the effects of such stimulation on root growth (Gartner 1994;Stokes et al 1995), despite the vital role of root systems in anchoring plants to their growing medium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A comparison of root distribution of three hardwood species grown on a hillside in the Caspian forest, Iran

Abdi

Majnounian

Rahimi

et al. 2010

Journal of Forest Research

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Slope is a complex environmental factor that can subject plants to a number of mechanical stresses. The anchorage of roots and improvement of slope stability mainly depend on specific properties of root systems, such as root distribution. In the present study, 24 trees (from three species) growing on gentle slopes (10-20°) were randomly chosen for root distribution analysis. The profile trenching method was used to obtain root characteristics. The findings indicated that root area ratio (RAR) decreased with depth and that maximum RAR values were observed in the upper layers; RAR values were between 0.0004% and 6.6444%. Average RAR values were not statistically different in upslope and downslope layers except in one case. The dot grid method (100 9 150 mm) usually overestimated the RAR values. The amount of roots decreased with depth following a power law. About 50% and 90% of roots were located in the first 30 and 60 cm depths, respectively. Results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed a significant effect of diameter at breast height (DBH) on total RAR but not on the total number of roots. About 70% of roots had diameter of less than 10 mm. Spearman's correlation showed significant negative correlation between the total number of roots and the amount of N, P, and K elements, and a positive correlation between DBH and RAR. The results serve to develop understanding of the biotechnical characteristics of root systems of Caspian species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

A comparison of root distribution of three hardwood species grown on a hillside in the Caspian forest, Iran

Abdi

Majnounian

Rahimi

et al. 2010

Journal of Forest Research

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“…Diameters of all roots intersecting the trench wall were measured with a vernier calliper (Sun et al 2008). Then the relation between RAR distribution and soil depth was calculated.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability (Hyrcanian Forest, Iran)

Abdi

2014

J. For. Sci.

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Vegetation significantly affects hillslope mechanical properties related to shallow landslides and slope stability. The objective of this study was to investigate and quantify the effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability. A part of Hyrcanian forest in northern Iran was selected for the study area. To do the research, the Wu model (WM) was used and data related to the distribution and tensile strength of Oriental beech roots were collected. Root distribution was assessed using the concept of the root area ratio and trenching method. Laboratory tensile tests were conducted on fresh roots for strength characteristics. The factor of safety was calculated for two different soil thicknesses (1 and 2 m) and slope gradients between 10 and 45°. The results showed that the root distribution generally decreased with increasing soil depth and the mean root strength value was 38.23 ± 1.19 MPa for 0.35-5.60 mm diameter range. The results verified a power relationship between tensile strength and root diameter. The reinforcement effect (C r ) decreased with depth and the strongest reinforcement effect was in the second soil layer (10-20 cm) which showed a shear strength increase of 1.47 kPa. The increased factor of safety due to the presence of roots in one-and two-metre soil thicknesses was 27-44% and 15-26%, respectively. The improvement effect of roots was increased with increasing slope gradient and shallower soil thicknesses.

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“…This is considered typical of the architecture of tree root systems that have developed on steep slopes and has previously been referred to as bilateral fan-shaped architecture (Chiatante et al 2003) with the larger and stronger lateral roots in the upslope and leeward direction (Schiechtl 1980) (Fig. 1d) developing under compression (Stokes and Guitard 1997) and providing the greatest contribution to tree stability/anchorage (Sun et al 2008). Conversely, roots located in the downslope and windward direction developed under tension are smaller and weaker and likely contribute less to tree anchorage.…”

Section: Root Orientationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root development and whole-tree allometry of juvenile trees of five seed lots of Pinus radiata D.Don: implications for forest establishment on erosion-prone terrain, East Coast region, North Island, New Zealand

Marden

Rowan²,

Lambie

2016

N.Z. j. of For. Sci.

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Background: Establishment of exotic forest on erosion-prone pastoral hill country in the East Coast region of New Zealand escalated following a major cyclonic storm in 1988. Pinus radiata D.Don is the predominant species used for erosion control. It has been suggested that planting densities could be reduced if faster growing P. radiata seedlings and cuttings from genetically improved seed lots were used.Methods: A field-based trial was established to measure and compare annual growth rates between P. radiata seed lots (GF 16 and GF 19 seedlings and cuttings grown from GF 23 seed) used during the period of early forest establishment (1960s onwards) in this region and genetically improved seed lots (GF 27 seedlings and GF 28 cuttings) developed at a later date. Over a 4-year period, the above-ground parameters (diameter at breast height, root collar diameter, tree height and canopy diameter) were measured before whole trees (canopy and root systems) were destructively sampled.Results: Root collar diameter (over bark) was most highly correlated with tree height, with r 2 ranging between 0.95 and 0.98 for all the seed lots, and all regressions were highly significant (P < 0.001). In any year of the trial, there were no differences among seed lots with respect to root collar diameter, total above-ground biomass or total below-ground biomass. By year 4, mean below-ground biomass comprised 17% of total biomass. There was no consistently significant difference among seed lots in the distribution of total below-ground biomass or root length with distance from the root bole, relative to depth, or in either their maximum lateral root spread or maximum root depth until year 4 when GF16S and GF27S had a greater (P = 0.05) maximum root spread than GF28C while the latter had developed a significantly greater (P = 0.05) proportion of its root biomass and root length within the top 0.5 m of the soil profile. The root cross-sectional area of vertical roots increased significantly with age but decreased with depth. Root orientation formed a 'bilateral fan-shaped' architecture. Conclusions: The absence of consistently significant differences among seed lots suggests that during the early 4 year post-establishment period, no one seed lot would provide earlier soil reinforcement or result in a superior level of slope stability than would any of the other seed lots trialled. Thus, irrespective of seed lot preferences, any reduction in the current recommended planting density for erosion-prone hill country would further increase the period of vulnerability and risk of young plantings to damage by storm-initiated landslides.

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Influence of slope on root system anchorage of Pinus yunnanensis

Cited by 49 publications

References 30 publications

A comparison of root distribution of three hardwood species grown on a hillside in the Caspian forest, Iran

A comparison of root distribution of three hardwood species grown on a hillside in the Caspian forest, Iran

Effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability (Hyrcanian Forest, Iran)

Root development and whole-tree allometry of juvenile trees of five seed lots of Pinus radiata D.Don: implications for forest establishment on erosion-prone terrain, East Coast region, North Island, New Zealand

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