Projects per year
Abstract
Background and aim: Nature-based solutions to engineering challenges are essential to limit climate change impacts on the urban environment. Quantitative understanding of multiple “engineering functions” provided by soil-plant interactions of different species is needed for species selection and re-establishing natural processes affected by urbanisation.
Methods: Contrasting herbaceous species (legumes, grasses, and forbs) were selected and grown as monoculture or species mix in soil columns for a five-month growing season. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was initially tested for each column, and then the columns were monitored for three-weeks of evapotranspiration. Water loss, matric suction, and penetrometer resistance were measured. Finally, soil was tested for aggregate stability and water retention.
Results: Saturated hydraulic conductivity of vegetated soil was generally larger than that of fallow soil (6.9e−6 ± 1.4e−6 m/s in fallow soil). Saturated hydraulic conductivity was significantly different between species (e.g., from 9.9e−6 ± 1.3e−6 m/s in Festuca ovina to 3.9e−5 ± 1.2e−6 m/s in Lotus corniculatus) and was negatively correlated with specific root length. The water stored in the soil was efficiently removed by plant transpiration (> 60% of evapotranspiration). Large changes in soil structure were observed in vegetated soil, with significant increases in soil strength, aggregate stability, and alteration of water retention properties.
Conclusions: Multiple soil-plant interactions influence species selection for optimising nature-based solutions (e.g., bioretention barriers). Substantial scope exists to choose species mixes to manipulate soil hydro-mechanical properties. Enhanced biodiversity did not compromise the engineering services of nature-based solutions (e.g., water removal), and may have multiple benefits.
Methods: Contrasting herbaceous species (legumes, grasses, and forbs) were selected and grown as monoculture or species mix in soil columns for a five-month growing season. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was initially tested for each column, and then the columns were monitored for three-weeks of evapotranspiration. Water loss, matric suction, and penetrometer resistance were measured. Finally, soil was tested for aggregate stability and water retention.
Results: Saturated hydraulic conductivity of vegetated soil was generally larger than that of fallow soil (6.9e−6 ± 1.4e−6 m/s in fallow soil). Saturated hydraulic conductivity was significantly different between species (e.g., from 9.9e−6 ± 1.3e−6 m/s in Festuca ovina to 3.9e−5 ± 1.2e−6 m/s in Lotus corniculatus) and was negatively correlated with specific root length. The water stored in the soil was efficiently removed by plant transpiration (> 60% of evapotranspiration). Large changes in soil structure were observed in vegetated soil, with significant increases in soil strength, aggregate stability, and alteration of water retention properties.
Conclusions: Multiple soil-plant interactions influence species selection for optimising nature-based solutions (e.g., bioretention barriers). Substantial scope exists to choose species mixes to manipulate soil hydro-mechanical properties. Enhanced biodiversity did not compromise the engineering services of nature-based solutions (e.g., water removal), and may have multiple benefits.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 106668 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Ecological Engineering |
Volume | 180 |
Early online date | 13 May 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
Keywords
- Bioretention
- Flood mitigation
- Herbaceous species
- Nature-based solutions
- Soil hydrology
- Soil-plant interactions
- Root systems
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nature and Landscape Conservation
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Environmental Engineering
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Modifying soil properties with herbaceous plants for natural flood risk-reduction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Climate Adaptation Control Technologies for Urban Spaces (CACTUS) (Joint with Durham, Cardiff, Queen's, Newcastle Universities and Imperial College)
Bengough, G. (Investigator) & Knappett, J. (Investigator)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/01/18 → 31/08/24
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Keynote
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Nature-based solutions for protecting earthworks from extreme weather
Knappett, J. (Speaker)
11 Jul 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Keynote