Biotechnical Stabilization of Highway Cut Slope

Morphological Characteristics and Water-Use Efficiency of Siberian Elm Trees (Ulmus pumila L.) within Arid Regions of Northeast Asia

“…In countries including China and Mongolia where more than 250 million people are directly affected by desertification, the efforts to prevent this expansion and to rehabilitate degraded areas by restoring vegetation are increasing [2][3][4][5]. Restoration of vegetation improves soil reinforcement by decreasing soil erosion and eventually decreasing or mitigating desertification [6]. To avoid failure and side effects caused by planting trees in these areas, it is necessary to select appropriate species which have already survived and adapted to the drought and harsh conditions [5,7,8].…”

Streambank Soil Bioengineering Approach to Erosion Control

“…The biological and ecological concepts are to build based on the increase of the resistance of slopes to surface erosion by providing limited mechanical support to the soil, thereby reducing the potential for further surface erosion, gully formation, shallow failures, surface debris movement, and debris entrainment. Soil bioengineering, in the context of upland slope protection and erosion reduction, combines mechanical, biological, and ecological concepts to arrest and prevent shallow slope failures and erosion (Gray & Sotir, 1992). Gray & Sotir (1996) describe soil bioengineering as a specific term that refers to 'the use of live plants and plant parts, in which live cuttings and stems are placed in the ground, or in earthen structures, where they provide additional mechanical support to soil, and act as hydraulic drains, barriers to earth movement, and hydraulic pumps or wicks'.…”

“…Some of the ecotechnological methods are not new and, in fact, some have been practiced for centuries, particularly in China (Stokes et al, 2010). Vegetation helps to prevent erosion on slopes by: 1) Binding and restraining soil particles in place; 2) Reducing sediment transport; 3) Intercepting raindrops; 4) Retarding velocity of runoff; 5) Enhancing and maintaining infiltration capacity; 6) Minimizing freeze-thaw cycles of soils susceptible to frost Gray & Sotir (1992). The selection of suitable plant species and species combinations in soil bioengineering measures must be based on careful vegetation surveys.…”

Site investigation for the effects of vegetation on ground stability

“…Whilst the potential application of vegetation to assist stability is generally associated with slopes (Barker, 1986;Coppin and Richards, 1990;Gray and Sotir, 1995;MacNeil et al, 2001), it should be noted that vegetation also plays a part in stabilising horizontal surfaces to improve shear resistance. The penalty miss by footballer David Beckham during the European Cup finals of June 2004 ( Figure 1) was claimed by Sven Goran Eriksson, the coach, to be due to the fact that 'he slipped with his foot once again because the area around the penalty spot didn't have enough grass'.…”