11 research outputs found
Effect of root age on the biomechanics of seminal and nodal roots of barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare L.</i>) in contrasting soil environments
Acknowledgments The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Scottish Government. The authors would also like to thank Jim McNicol from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland for his advice on statistical analysis.Peer reviewedPostprin
Effects of root dehydration on biomechanical properties of woody roots of <i>Ulex europaeus</i>
A critical evaluation of predictive models for rooted soil strength with application to predicting the seismic deformation of rooted slopes
Small-scale modelling of plant root systems using 3D printing, with applications to investigate the role of vegetation on earthquake-induced landslides
Correlating hydrologic reinforcement of vegetated soil with plant traits during establishment of woody perennials
An exploratory analysis of vegetation strategies to reduce shallow landslide activity on loess hillslopes, Northeast Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Biomechanics of nodal, seminal and lateral roots of barley:Effects of diameter, waterlogging and mechanical impedance
Influence of plant root system morphology and architectural traits on soil shear resistance
Ecological mitigation of hillslope instability: ten key issues facing researchers and practitioners
Background Plants alter their environment in a number of ways. With correct management, plant communities can positively impact soil degradation processes such as surface erosion and shallow landslides. However, there are major gaps in our understanding of physical and ecological processes on hillslopes, and the application of research to restoration and engineering projects. Scope To identify the key issues of concern to researchers and practitioners involved in designing and implementing projects to mitigate hillslope instability, we organized a discussion during the Third International Conference on Soil Bio- and Eco-Engineering: The Use of Vegetation to Improve Slope Stability, Vancouver, Canada, July 2012. The facilitators asked delegates to answer three questions: (i) what do practitioners need from science? (ii) what are some of the key knowledge gaps? (iii) what ideas do you have for future collaborative research projects between practitioners and researchers? From this discussion, ten key issues were identified, considered as the kernel of future studies concerning the impact of vegetation on slope stability and erosion processes. Each issue is described and a discussion at the end of this paper addresses how we can augment the use of ecological engineering techniques for mitigating slope instability. Conclusions We show that through fundamental and applied research in related fields (e.g., soil formation and biogeochemistry, hydrology and microbial ecology), reliable data can be obtained for use by practitioners seeking adapted solutions for a given site. Through fieldwork, accessible databases, modelling and collaborative projects, awareness and acceptance of the use of plant material in slope restoration projects should increase significantly, particularly in the civil and geotechnical communities. (Résumé d'auteur