Surface protection of slopes by grass covering techniques

Abstract

Erosive phenomena are very diffused all over the world. Over the years different techniques of ground protection and renaturation have been developed. Among them, an outstanding and innovative natural technology uses only natural perennial grass plants with deep roots and allows to operate in areas where pedoclimatic conditions were until a few years ago considered prohibitive for the development of vegetation. Such technology also appears promising with respect to phenomena of surface instability of fronts: the deep root grasses may induce mechanical and hydraulic effects on slope equilibrium that typically increase the shear strength of soil. The mechanical effects of plant roots result from the root/soil interaction processes; the hydraulic effects derive from the significant reduction of water content and degree of saturation of soil caused by the presence of grass. Final goal of the research is the quantitative evaluation of such effects through modeling and implementation of a computing algorithm. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.