Reeinforced soils are usually constructed to stabilize unstable slopes, retain the soil on steep slopes and under crest loads. The reinforcement materials is placed in horizontal layers throughout the height of the wall. Different kind of geosynthetics can be used. Modified soil slope profiles (beyond their natural angle of repose) require a vegetation cover that minimizes superficial soil erosion. Usually reinforced soils are covered by a grass mat that provide a total ground cover and an intense root colonization. The use of ornamental species will provide a more pleasant sight but may lack in ground covering and in root soil colonization, with consequent significant soil erosion. Aims of this study are: 1) selection of the optimal species for soil erosion mitigation in reinforced soil, based on root morphology and shoot coverage characterization; 2) test different materials to use on slope surface in order to enhance growth of ornamental species on steep slope. Preliminary data on root apparatus were obtained from plants grown in pots. For each species, root system was carefully washed to remove growing substrate, scanned at 800 dpi and images were analyzed categorizing roots in diameter classes of 0.05 mm. Type of shoot and its development in time was obtained by taking picture of plant. Moreover, a 3-dimensional aliphatic polyamides mat was chosen to be tested as permanent erosion prevention system. In future tasks, root morphology and shoot coverage of selected species growing on steep reinforced soils will be analysed.
Use of ornamental plants in reinforced soils with anti-erosion pUrpose: a demanding achievement regarding root systems traits and type of shoots soil coverage
Montagnoli Antonio;CHIATANTE, DONATO
2014-01-01
Abstract
Reeinforced soils are usually constructed to stabilize unstable slopes, retain the soil on steep slopes and under crest loads. The reinforcement materials is placed in horizontal layers throughout the height of the wall. Different kind of geosynthetics can be used. Modified soil slope profiles (beyond their natural angle of repose) require a vegetation cover that minimizes superficial soil erosion. Usually reinforced soils are covered by a grass mat that provide a total ground cover and an intense root colonization. The use of ornamental species will provide a more pleasant sight but may lack in ground covering and in root soil colonization, with consequent significant soil erosion. Aims of this study are: 1) selection of the optimal species for soil erosion mitigation in reinforced soil, based on root morphology and shoot coverage characterization; 2) test different materials to use on slope surface in order to enhance growth of ornamental species on steep slope. Preliminary data on root apparatus were obtained from plants grown in pots. For each species, root system was carefully washed to remove growing substrate, scanned at 800 dpi and images were analyzed categorizing roots in diameter classes of 0.05 mm. Type of shoot and its development in time was obtained by taking picture of plant. Moreover, a 3-dimensional aliphatic polyamides mat was chosen to be tested as permanent erosion prevention system. In future tasks, root morphology and shoot coverage of selected species growing on steep reinforced soils will be analysed.
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