Effects of grass roots on the erodibility of topsoils during concentrated flow

Baets, Sarah De; Poesen, Jean; Gyssels, Gwendolyn; Knapen, Anke

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.10.002

Cited by 330 publications

(278 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In addition to reducing soil losses as a result of the runoff, performed simulations clearly indicate activity towards reducing sediment yield outside slope. This confirms the results of earlier studies [DE BAETS et al 2006;KONEČNA et al 2012;KOWA-LCZYK et al 2011]. In order to effectively reduce erosion on the entire slope, it is necessary to introduce barriers against concentration of runoff in the upper slopes.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Evaluation of the effects of land consolidation in the Latyczyn village in terms of land protection against erosion on the slope scale

Rybicki¹

2017

Journal of Water and Land Development

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Soil erosion by water is an important economical issue strongly deteriorating environment and requiring remedial actions. The study was designed to evaluate antierosion effect of changes in the layout of plots from along to across slope as an effect of land consolidation. Moreover, rightness of leaving newly set out boundaries of plots without any protection (i.e. sodding) was evaluated. For this purpose simulations of use of additional anti-erosive measures were done. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model was used. Studies have shown that in addition to the design of transverse layout of parcels during consolidation, further antierosion measures may be necessary to reduce soil loss and sediment yield. In order to minimize soil losses outside the slope, boundaries between the newly designed fields should be sodded already in the post consolidation management. Limitation the amount of erosion over the entire slope requires use of additional protection measures in the upper part of slopes e.g. shelterbelts and antierosion crop rotations. WEPP model can be recommended for Provincial Bureaus of Surveying as a tool to support the development of assumptions for consolidation projects of lands threatened by erosion.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Evaluation of the effects of land consolidation in the Latyczyn village in terms of land protection against erosion on the slope scale

Rybicki¹

2017

Journal of Water and Land Development

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“…However, only a few studies reported the effects of semi-natural vegetation on soil properties (e.g. De Baets et al 2006;Montagnoli et al 2010;Głąb & Kacorzyk 2011) or how changes in root density and morphology in gradients from grassland to shrubland affect soil functioning (Tasser et al 2003).…”

Section: Description Of Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fine roots forming a very dense root system characterize grasses (De Baets et al 2006), in contrast to the root system of trees and shrubs, which consist of fewer thick roots. It is reasonable to attribute the negative effect of shrub cover on root length density in the top soil layer to a decrease of herbaceous components in the vegetation.…”

Section: Above and Belowground Pattern Have Consequences For Ecosystementioning

confidence: 99%

Above- and belowground patterns in a subalpine grassland-shrub mosaic

Pornaro

Schneider

Leinauer

et al. 2016

Plant Biosystems - An International Journal Dealing with all As

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Many mountain pastures consist of a mosaic of grassland and shrub communities. Ongoing changes in mountain agriculture have affected the balance between the two elements of the mosaic. In order to understand the consequences of these changes for ecosystem functioning, we studied patterns in vegetation, root structure and soil properties along transects of varying grassland-to-shrub proportions. Our hypothesis was that differences in the vegetation aboveground are accompanied by differences belowground, related to soil properties and depth. The research was conducted at a subalpine site in the Trentino region (South-eastern Alps), consisting of Nardus stricta grasslands alternating with shrub patches of Rhododendron ferrugineum. Our investigation showed that the composition of vegetation was mainly governed by R. ferrugineum cover and less by soil properties. Plant species richness peaked at low to intermediate degrees of shrub cover and composition between transects became more similar with increasing shrub cover. Where R. ferrugineum cover was higher, Hemicryptophytes caespitosae were replaced by Nano-phanerophytes with consequences for belowground structures. At increasing shrub cover, root length density decreased, especially in the top soil, while root weight density remained stable and C content increased insignificantly. We discuss that theses structural changes along the gradient of R. ferrugineum cover affect a number of ecosystem services. The presented evidence suggests that maintaining grasslands with a low cover of R. ferrugineum balances a number of services, namely plant species diversity, carbon stabilization in soil and the prevention of soil erosion.

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“…But the presence of vegetation provides a cover of organic matter over the soil, provides surface roughness, improves the soil structure and thus increases infiltration capacity. All these factors could reduce the erosive impact of raindrops on the ground surface (Kasran, Nik 1994;De Baets et al 2006). Grace (2000) found out that the high percent of vegetation cover exhibits the greatest mitigating effects on both sediment yield and runoff.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, a more significant contribution of plant vegetation to the stability is the additional strength imparted within the soil mantle by root systems. Thus the dense root network protects the surface from significant sediment transport (De Baets et al 2006;Sidle 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reducing erosion from forest roads and skid trails by management practices

Akbarimehr¹,

Naghdi²

2012

J. For. Sci.

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A road network in forest lands provides easy access to forest resources for extraction, regeneration, protection and recreation activities. Erosion from forest roads and skid trails is a major concern in forest management due to the capability to cause adverse environmental effects. The objective of this paper is to introduce two methods for reducing erosion on forest roads and skid trails: water diversion and vegetation cover. Factors affecting erosion on forest roads and skid trails are climate, quality of forest road surfacing material, traffic, slope and vegetation cover. There are several management practices to mitigate the impact of logging and forest road and skid trail construction on stream water quality. Sediments delivered to streams from roads and skid trails lead to a number of dramatic effects on water quality and aquatic life. These management practices were found to be effective in controlling and reducing the runoff volume and soil erosion. Therefore, management and maintenance of forest roads and skid trails are essential elements to mitigate erosion.

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Effects of grass roots on the erodibility of topsoils during concentrated flow

Cited by 330 publications

References 18 publications

Evaluation of the effects of land consolidation in the Latyczyn village in terms of land protection against erosion on the slope scale

Evaluation of the effects of land consolidation in the Latyczyn village in terms of land protection against erosion on the slope scale

Above- and belowground patterns in a subalpine grassland-shrub mosaic

Reducing erosion from forest roads and skid trails by management practices

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