Root structure of slope protection plants in a high-grade highway

Abstract

Root length and root length density of Lespedeza bicolor, Amorpha fruticosa, and Sea buckthorn were investigated in a country highway-TongSan highway (Tongjiang to Sanya) in Heilongjiang Province, China. The root lengths were divided into five root orders according to Pregizter sequence classification method. Results show that sea buckthorn roots are dominated by coarse roots in the horizontal growth, while L. bicolor has a large proportion of fine roots in vertical conical growth and A. fruticosa is in depth growth. Root length density of L. bicolor in all the root sequences is higher than that of sea buckthorn and A. fruticosa. On the basis of the root structure, it is inferred that L. bicolor roots mainly absorb the surface soil moisture for its normal growth; in contrast, A. fruticosa has good uptake ability to deep soil water. The root structure of sea buckthorn implies that it has a strong drought resistance.

Keywords

seasonal frost area / slope protection plant / root structure

References

[1] Bohm W.. Methods of Studying Root Systems. 1979, Berlin, New York: Springer-Verlag, 188.

[2] Chen Xueping, Zhang Hongjiang, Zhang Xiang, Jiang Yulin, Li Haifen, Cao Chuanlin. 2009. Plant Selection for Highway Slope. In: Proceedings of National Highway Ecological Green Theory and Technology, pp. 277–287. (In Chinese)

[3] Coppin N. J., Richards I.G.. Use of Vegetation in Civil Engineering. 1990, London: Butterworths, 292.

[4] Coutts M.P.. Root architecture and tree stability. Plant Soil, 1983, 71: 171-188.

[5] Coutts M.P.. Developmental processes in tree root systems. Can J For Res, 1987, 17: 761-767.

[6] Greenway D.R.. Vegetation and slope stability. Slope Stability. 1987, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 187 230

[7] Gray DH, Sotir RB. 1996. Biotechnical and soil bioengineering slop stabilization: A practical guide for erosion control. John Wiley and & Sons.ISBN:0-471-04978-6.

[8] Lynch J.P.. Root architecture and pant productivities. Plant Physiol, 1995, 109: 7-13.

[9] Morgan R.P.C., Rickson R.J.. Slope Stabilization and Erosion Control: A bioengineering approach. 1995, London: E & FN Spon, 221 264

[10] Xiong B., Yu D., Yuan J., Zeng M., Zhang Y., Du Jianbin.. Sea buckthorm plant resources and utilization. Chinese Wild Plant Resources, 2004, 4: 25-26.

[11] Yan X., Zhang Fusuo.. Genetics of Plant Nutrition. 1997, Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 78 197

[12] Zhang Jun, Li Jinlong. 2010. Application & cultivation techniques of Amorpha canescens on highway greening. Protection Forest Science and Technology, (1): 121–122. (In Chinese)

[13] Zhou Xiaofeng.. China Location of Forest Ecosystems. 1994, Harbin: Northeast Forestry University Press, 517 523