HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in JEQ Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wynn, T. M. Articles by Henry, L.-A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wynn, T. M. Articles by Henry, L.-A. Agricola Articles by Wynn, T. M. Articles by Henry, L.-A. Related Collections Field-Scale Studies Best Management Practices Ecosystem Restoration Root Development Soil Erosion

TECHNICAL REPORTS

Ecosystem Restoration

Variation in Root Density along Stream Banks

^a Biological Systems Engineering, 200 Seitz Hall (0303), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0303
^b Forestry, 228 Cheatham Hall (0324), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0303

^* Corresponding author (tesswynn{at}vt.edu)

Received for publication August 5, 2003. While it is recognized that vegetation plays a significant role in stream bank stabilization, the effects are not fully quantified. The study goal was to determine the type and density of vegetation that provides the greatest protection against stream bank erosion by determining the density of roots in stream banks. To quantify the density of roots along alluvial stream banks, 25 field sites in the Appalachian Mountains were sampled. The riparian buffers varied from short turfgrass to mature riparian forests, representing a range of vegetation types. Root length density (RLD) with depth and aboveground vegetation density were measured. The sites were divided into forested and herbaceous groups and differences in root density were evaluated. At the herbaceous sites, very fine roots (diameter < 0.5 mm) were most common and more than 75% of all roots were concentrated in the upper 30 cm of the stream bank. Under forested vegetation, fine roots (0.5 mm < diameter < 2.0 mm) were more common throughout the bank profile, with 55% of all roots in the top 30 cm. In the top 30 cm of the bank, herbaceous sites had significantly greater overall RLD than forested sites ( = 0.01). While there were no significant differences in total RLD below 30 cm, forested sites had significantly greater concentrations of fine roots, as compared with herbaceous sites ( = 0.01). As research has shown that erosion resistance has a direct relationship with fine root density, forested vegetation may provide better protection against stream bank erosion.

Abbreviations: BSA, basal stem area • RAR, root area ratio • RLD, root length density • RVR, root volume ratio • SCV, shrub crown volume • TD, tree density

Related articles in JEQ:

This Issue in Journal of Environmental Quality

JEQ 2004 33: 1947-1953. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. W. McDowell and R. J. Wilcock Sources of Sediment and Phosphorus in Stream Flow of a Highly Productive Dairy Farmed Catchment J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2007; 36(2): 540 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]