Plant root and rhizome strength: Are there differences between and within species and rivers?

• Published in: Earth surface processes and landforms 2019-01, Vol.44 (1), p.389-392
• Main Authors: Gurnell, A.M., Holloway, J.V., Liffen, T., Serlet, A.J., Zolezzi, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic plants; Body organs; Data; Data processing; Datasets; Earth; Earth surface; Environmental conditions; Landforms; Organs; Plant resistance; Plant roots; Plant species; Rhizomes; Riparian environments; riparian vegetation; river bank stability; River banks; Riverbanks; Rivers; root strength–diameter relationships; Species; Stability; Strength; Uprooting
• ISSN: 0197-9337; 1096-9837
• DOI: 10.1002/esp.4499

The strength and architecture of roots and other below‐ground organs of riparian and aquatic plants affect plant resistance to uprooting and contribute to reinforcing river bank, bar and bed materials. Therefore, root properties are an important element in models for estimating river bank stability and such models may focus on the role of plants by using root strength–diameter relationships for the particular plant species that are present. Here we explore the degree to which there appear to be significant differences in strength–diameter relationships between and within species‐specific data sets obtained for two riparian tree/shrub (Populus nigra, Salix alba) and two emergent aquatic macrophyte (Sparganium erectum, Phalaris arundinacea) species in different European river environments. While the analysed data sets were not specifically collected to answer these research questions, the results are sufficiently compelling to make the case for the collection of a more comprehensive data set and its rigorous analysis. This would allow recommendations to be made on the degree to which (i) species‐specific or more general relationships between root/rhizome strength and diameter are appropriate, (ii) such relationships are applicable within and between rivers in different geographical regions and subject to different local environmental conditions, and (iii) further (minimalist) field observations are needed to calibrate such relationships for investigations of new locales or species. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Relationships between the strength and diameter of roots are an important element in models used for estimating river bank stability. However, collection of data sets to support estimation of such relationships is time‐consuming and the resulting data usually display high variance. Collection and analysis of a large purpose‐designed data set is needed to establish whether such relationships need to be species and site specific or whether more generalised relationships would be sufficient.