Methodological framework to select plant species for controlling rill and gully erosion: application to a Mediterranean ecosystem
Methodological framework to select plant species for controlling rill and gully erosion: application to a Mediterranean ecosystem
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DOI：
10.1002/esp.1826
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发表时间：
2009-08-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Meersmans, J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
De Baets, S.;Poesen, J.;Meersmans, J.
许多研究将植被降低土壤侵蚀速率的作用归因于地上生物量的作用。根系对表土抗集中流侵蚀能力的影响研究较少。然而，在地中海地区，地上生物量可能因火灾、干旱或过度放牧而暂时消失，当发生集中流水侵蚀时，根系可以在控制土壤侵蚀率方面发挥重要作用。不幸的是，关于地中海植物特征的信息，特别是在半自然土地上生长的根系特征，以及它们对沟侵蚀控制的适用性的知识往往缺乏。评估植物性状的方法学框架也不存在。本文提出了一种植物控制沟沟侵蚀的适宜性评价方法，并将其应用于西班牙东南部半干旱地中海景观中具有代表性的25种植物。在这种分析中，确定控制集中流侵蚀的适宜植物是基于多准则分析的。首先，确定了四个主要标准，即(1)植物防止集中水流侵蚀切口的潜力；(2)植物改善边坡稳定性的潜力；(3)植物抵抗水流弯曲的能力；(4)植物截留沉积物和有机碎屑的能力。然后，使用一个指标或两个指标的组合来评估四个标准的分数。共选取了5个指标，分别是根系附加黏聚力、植株刚度、茎密度、浓流减蚀势、泥沙和有机碎屑阻挡势。综合考虑植株地上、地下性状，对茎密度、底泥和有机碎屑阻挡势、茎弹性模量、茎转动惯量、根密度、根直径分布、根面积比和根抗拉强度5个指标进行评分。各指标得分用阿米巴图表示，分别表示植物在防治侵蚀方面的有利性状和弱势性状。禾草刺针草（Stipa tenacissima L.）和冬青（Lygeum spartum L.）以及灌木Salsola genistoides Juss。Poir交货。其中，被选为非常适合治理沟沟侵蚀的植物品种。由于该物种适应干旱，并对集中水流侵蚀和浅层物质运动提供了良好的保护，因此可以用来重建废弃的梯田。Lygeum spartum可以用来种植集中流带或阻止泥沙流入沟壑出口的渠道。在陡峭的南向斜坡上，可以使用刺针茅和龙葵。本研究所建立的方法可以应用于沟沟侵蚀地区的其他植物种类。版权所有John Wiley & Sons， Ltd. 2009
Many studies attribute the effects of vegetation in reducing soil erosion rates to the effects of the above-ground biomass. The effects of roots on topsoil resistance against concentrated flow erosion are much less studied. However, in a Mediterranean context, where the above-ground biomass can temporarily disappear because of fire, drought or overgrazing, and when concentrated flow erosion occurs, roots can play an important role in controlling soil erosion rates. Unfortunately, information on Mediterranean plant characteristics, especially root characteristics, growing on semi-natural lands, and knowledge of their suitability for gully erosion control is often lacking. A methodological framework to evaluate plant traits for this purpose is absent as well. This paper presents a methodology to assess the suitability of plants for rill and gully erosion control and its application to 25 plant species, representative for a semi-arid Mediterranean landscape in southeast Spain. In this analysis determination of suitable plants for controlling concentrated flow erosion is based on a multi-criteria analysis. First, four main criteria were determined, i.e. (1) the potential of plants to prevent incision by concentrated flow erosion, (2) the potential of plants to improve slope stability, (3) the resistance of plants to bending by water flow and (4) the ability of plants to trap sediments and organic debris. Then, an indicator or a combination of two indicators was used to assess the scores for the four criteria. In total, five indicators were selected, i.e. additional root cohesion, plant stiffness, stem density, the erosion-reducing potential during concentrated flow and the sediment and organic debris obstruction potential. Both above- and below-ground plant traits were taken into account and measured to assess the scores for the five indicators, i.e. stem density, sediment and organic debris obstruction potential, modulus of elasticity of the stems, moment of inertia of the stems, root density, root diameter distribution, root area ratio and root tensile strength. The scores for the indicators were represented on amoeba diagrams, indicating the beneficial and the weak plant traits, regarding to erosion control. The grasses Stipa tenacissima L. and Lygeum spartum L. and the shrub Salsola genistoides Juss. Ex Poir. amongst others, were selected as very suitable plant species for rill and gully erosion control. Stipa tenacissima can be used to re-vegetate abandoned terraces as this species is adapted to drought and offers a good protection to concentrated flow erosion and shallow mass movements. Lygeum spartum can be used to vegetate concentrated flow zones or to obstruct sediment inflow to channels at gully outlets. Stipa tenacissima and Salsola genistoides can be used to stabilize steep south-facing slopes. The methodology developed in this study can be applied to other plant species in areas suffering from rill and gully erosion. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.