Comparison of bioengineering characteristics of native and non-native tree species

The roots of the plants are used as a kind of materials in the slopes preservation and resistance. Because in addition to helping to preserving and resisting the environment, it has recovery ability and has no harmful and negative effects on the environment and has no additional costs too. Plant cover is caused for pastiness between soil particles for having root system and has significant impact in slope stabilization, for this reason, the biological characteristics of different species has great importance. The quantity of reinforcement depends on root biotechnical characteristics such as root density and tensile strength. In this study assessed these biotechnical properties.

In this study, two non-native afforested stands of pine (Pinus Sylvesteres) and acacia (Robinia Peseudo acasia) and two natural stands with native species of hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) and summer alder (Alnus Subcordata) with similar habitat conditions (altitude,Slope and direction of slope, soil type, geology, etc) in the forest of Neka city (Neka-Zalmarud forestry plan) was and Six trees of each species were randomly selected for later analysis. The Root Area Ratio and tensile strength were investigated. Profile trenching method was used to analyze and compare their root distribution. The walls of the profile are divided into 10 cm horizons. Number and diameter of protruded roots in each depth were measured. Finally, the percentage of Root Area Ratio in each horizon was calculated. Standard Santam was used to determine the tensile strength of roots. Root samples were collected at the bottom (30% slope) of trees.

The results indicated that the Root Area Ratio were decreased with increasing depth According to the exponential function . The Root area ratio in non-native species is higher than native species. Which has obtained for Carpinus Betulus, Alnus Subcordata, Robinia Peseudo acasia and Pinus Sylvesteres, 0.033±0.002, 0.081±0.002, 0.026±0.018±0.177±0.015 percent respectively. The diameter range of the tested roots was 2-9 mm. The results of tensile strength tests showed that with increasing diameter, the amount of tensile strength according to the According to the exponential function decreased. There is a positive power relationship between root diameter and tensile force.

In this research tensile strength of native species is more than non-native one that has obtained for Carpinus Betulus, Alnus Subcordata, Robinia Peseudo acasia and Pinus Sylvesteres, 31.93±10.3, 17.57±6.98, 18.4±2.41, 9.77±5.46 Mpa respectively. The results of this work may help us when applying an efficient bioengineering technique