The Applicability of the Exposed Roots of Cupressus sempervirens L. var horizontalis for the Estimation of Soil Erosion in Hassan Abad, Mazandaran Province

Anatomical changes of the exposed roots in Cupressus sempervirens L. var horizontalis were used to estimate soil erosion in Hassan Abad valley, Chaloos, Iran. A total of 30 exposed roots, for five trees, were used to estimate erosion. Cross-sections of 20 μm were papered and the first year of exposure by erosion was identified. We finally estimated the mean annual erosion. The statistical relationship of the mean annual erosion with the percentage of the plant coverage, geographical aspects and slopes were investigated. The mean erosion of the study area has been estimated around 0.5 mm per year. There was negative relationship between the annual erosion and slope as well as the percentage of the plant coverage. The samples obtained in southern and western aspects showed higher annual erosions. We concluded that anatomical changes of exposed roots of C. sempervirens are valuable tools to date erosion events, however, the responses of diverse species under different types of erosion remains to be studied in future.