Analyses of plant root additional cohesion heterogeneity at loess slope on the Loess Plateau. Journal of Beijing Forestry University

To investigate the spatial variability of root additional cohesion on loess slope, this paper takes monospecific stands of Robinia pseudoacacia and Platycladus orientalis grown on slopes in the semiarid Loess Plateau of northern China as case study. Root distribution could be described by root area ratio (RAR). Root tensile strength was determined with laboratory mechanical tests. Finally, spatial variability of root additional cohesion was analyzed. The results showed that biomechanical characteristics of R. pseudoacacia roots were significantly different from P. orientalis roots. RAR and root additional cohesion were significantly different among species, slope locations and depth. The analyses of R. pseudoacacia and P. orientalis root spatial heterogeneity indicated that root reinforcement was not evenly distributed along slope in the Loess Plateau, which could provide a basic theory of afforestation mode in spatial distribution and hence control soil erosion and shallow landslide.