J. For. Sci., 2014, 60(4):166-173 | DOI: 10.17221/93/2013-JFS

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

E. Abdi
Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

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 (Cr) 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.

Keywords: root distribution; slope stability; soil reinforcement; tensile strength; Wu model

Published: April 30, 2014  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Abdi E. Effect of Oriental beech root reinforcement on slope stability (Hyrcanian Forest, Iran). J. For. Sci. 2014;60(4):166-173. doi: 10.17221/93/2013-JFS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Abdi E., Majnounian B., Rahimi H., Zobeiri M. (2009). Distribution and tensile strength of Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) roots growing on slopes of Caspian Forests, Iran. Journal of Forestry Research, 20: 105-110. Go to original source...
    2. Abdi E., Majnounian B., Genet M., Rahimi H. (2010): Quantifying the effects of root reinforcement of Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica) on slope stability. Ecological Engineering, 36: 1409-1416. Go to original source...
    3. Abernethy B., Rutherfurd I.D. (2000): The effect of riparian tree roots on the mass-stability of riverbanks. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 25: 921- 937. Go to original source...
    4. Bischetti G.B., Chiaradia E.A., 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 and Soil, 278: 11-22. Go to original source...
    5. Cazzuffi D., Coreneo A., Cripra E. (2006): Slope stabilisation by perennial 'gramineae' in Southern Italy: plant growth and temporal performance. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 24: 429-447. Go to original source...
    6. Cofie P., Koolen A.J. (2001): Test speed and other factors affecting the measurements of tree root properties used in soil reinforcement models. Soil and Tillage Research, 63: 51-56. Go to original source...
    7. Danjon F., Bert D., Godin C. Trichet P. (1999): Structural root architecture of 5-year-old Pinus pinaster measured by 3D digitising and analysed with AMAPmod. Plant and Soil, 217, 49-63. Go to original source...
    8. de Baets S., Poeson 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 and Soil, 307: 207-226. Go to original source...
    9. Genet M., Stokes A., Salin F., Mickovski S.B., Fourcaud T., Dumail J.F., Vanbeek R. (2005): The influence of cellulose content on tensile strength in tree roots. Plant and Soil, 258: 1-9. Go to original source...
    10. Genet M., Kokutse N., Stokes A., Fourcaud T., Cai X., Ji J., Mickovski S. (2008): Root reinforcement in plantations of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don: effect of tree age and stand structure on slope stability. Forest Ecology and Management, 256: 1517-1526. Go to original source...
    11. Gray D.H., Barker D. (2004): X. In: Bennett J.J., Simon A. (eds): Riparian Vegetation and Fluvial Geomorphology. New York, American Geophyisical Union: 113-123. Go to original source...
    12. Gray D.H., Sotir R.B. (1996): Biotechnical and Soil Bioengineering Slope Stabilization: a Practical Guide for Erosion Control. Toronto, John Wiley & Sons: 365.
    13. Greenway D.R. (1987): Vegetation and slope stability. In: Anderson M.F., Richards K.S. (eds): Slope Stability. New York, John Wiley & Sons: 240.
    14. Greenwood J. (2006): SLIP4EX - A program for routine slope stability analysis to include the effects of vegetation, reinforcement and hydrological changes. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 24: 449-465. Go to original source...
    15. Jackson R.B., Canadell J., Ehleringer J.R., Mooney H.A., Sala O.E., Schulze E.D. (1996): A global analysis of root distributions for terrestrial biomes. Oecologia, 108: 389-411. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Ji J., Kokutse N., Genet M., Fourcaud T., Zhang Z. (2012): Effect of spatial variation of tree root characteristics on slope stability. A case study on Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) stands on the Loess Plateau, China. Catena, 92: 139-154. Go to original source...
    17. Mao Z., Saint-Andre L., Genet M., Mine F.X., Jourdan C., Rey H., Courbaud B., Stokes A. (2012): Engineering ecological protection against landslides in diverse mountain forests: choosing cohesion models. Ecological Engineering, 45: 55-69. Go to original source...
    18. Mattia C., Bischetti G.B., Gentile F. (2005): Biotechnical characteristics of root system of typical Mediterranean species. Plant and Soil, 278: 23-32. Go to original source...
    19. Naghdi R., Maliki S., Abdi E., Mousa R., Nikkoy M. (2013): Assessing the effect of Alnus roots on hillslope stability in order to use in soil bioengineering. Journal of Forest Science, 59: 417-423. Go to original source...
    20. Nilaweera N.S. (1994): Effects of Tree Roots on Slope Stabil­ity: The Case of Khao Luang Mountain Area, So Thailand. [Ph.D. Thesis.] Bangkok, Asian Institute of Technology: 184.
    21. Simon A., Collison A.J.C. (2002): Quantifying the mechanical and hydrologic effects of riparian vegetation on streambank stability. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 27: 527-546 Go to original source...
    22. Stokes A., Norris J., Greenwood J. (2008): Introduction to ecotechnological solutions. In: Norris J.E., Stokes A., Mickovski S.B., Cammeraat E., van Beek R., Nicoll B.C., Achim A. (eds): Slope Stability and Erosion Control: Ecotechnological Solutions. Dordrecht, Springer: 1-8. Go to original source...
    23. Stokes A. (2002): Biomechanics of tree root anchorage. In: Waisel Y., Eshel A., Kafkafi U. (eds): Plant Roots: The Hidden Half. New York, Marcel Dekker: 175-186. Go to original source...
    24. Sun H.L., Li S.C., Xiong W.L., Yang Z.R., Cui B.S., Yang T. (2008): Influence of slope on root system anchorage of Pinus yunnanensis. Ecological Engineering, 32: 60-67. Go to original source...
    25. Tosi M. (2007): Root tensile strength relationships and their slope stability implications of three shrub species in the Northern Apennines (Italy). Geomorphology, 87: 268-283. Go to original source...
    26. Vergani C., Chiaradia E., Bischetti G. (2012): Variability in the tensile resistance of roots in Alpine forest tree species. Ecological Engineering, 46: 43-56. Go to original source...
    27. Waldron L.J. (1977): The shear resistance of root-permeated homogeneous and stratified soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 41: 843-849. Go to original source...
    28. Waldron L.J., Dakessian S. (1981): Soil reinforcement by roots: calculation of increased soil shear resistance from root properties. Soil Science, 132: 427-435. Go to original source...
    29. Wu T.H. (1976): Investigation of landslides on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. Columbus, Ohio State University: 94.
    30. Wu T.H. (1995): Slope stabilization. In: Morgan R.P., Rickson R.J. (eds): Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control - a Bioengineering Approach. London, Spon: 221-264.
    31. Wu T.H., Mckinnell W.P., Swanston D.N. (1979): Strength of tree root and landslides on Prince of Wales Island. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 16: 19-33. Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content