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Cited by 310Soil erosion and sediment transportTree Root and Stability StudiesHydrology and Sediment Transport Processes

The importance of plant root characteristics in controlling concentrated flow erosion rates

Gyssels, G., Poesen, J.·2003·Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
DOI 10.1002/esp.447
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Abstract

While it has been demonstrated in numerous studies that the aboveground characteristics of the vegetation are of particular importance with respect to soil erosion control, this study argues the importance of separating the influence of vegetation on soil erosion rates into two parts: the impact of leaves and stems (aboveground biomass) and the influence of roots (belowground biomass). Although both plant parameters form inseparable constituents of the total plant organism, most studies attribute the impact of vegetation on soil erosion rates mainly to the characteristics of the aboveground biomass. This triggers the question whether the belowground biomass is of no or negligible importance with respect to soil erosion by concentrated flow. This study tried to answer this question by comparing cross‐sectional areas of concentrated flow channels (rills and ephemeral gullies) in the Belgian Loess Belt for different cereal and grass plant densities. The results of these measurements highlighted the fact that both an increase in shoot density as well as an increase in root density resulted in an exponential decrease of concentrated flow erosion rates. Since protection of the soil surface in the early plant growth stages is crucial with respect to the reduction of water erosion rates, increasing the plant root density in the topsoil could be a viable erosion control strategy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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  • During overbank flow, hydraulic roughness of above-ground stems and branches of floodplain plants reduces water velocities and enhances deposition of fine sediment and organic matter.

    “During overbank flow, the hydraulic roughness of above-ground stems and branches of floodplain plant communities reduces water velocities and enhances the deposition of fine sediment and organic matter (Sedell and Beschta, 1991;Darby, 1999;Gyssels and Poesen, 2003;Smith, 2004).”

    From River channel dynamics following extirpation of wolves in northwestern Yellowstone National Park, USA (2006) · cites this paper as Gyssels and Poesen, 2003

  • During high flow, hydraulic roughness from above-ground stems and branches of riparian vegetation reduces water velocities, retarding riverbank erosion and enhancing deposition of fine sediment and organic matter on floodplains.

    “During periods of high flow, the hydraulic roughness imparted by above-ground stems and branches of riparian vegetation reduce water velocities, thereby retarding riverbank erosion and enhancing the deposition of fine sediment and organic matter on floodplains (Darby 1999; Gyssels and Poesen 2003; Smith 2004).”

    From A Century of Overabundant Ungulates in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley: First Elk and Now Bison (2026) · cites this paper as Gyssels and Poesen 2003

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Authors
Gyssels, G., & Poesen, J.
Affiliations
KU Leuven (BE)
Corresponding author
Gyssels, G.
ORCID
Poesen, J.
Venue
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-01-13
Volume
28
Issue
4
Pages
371-384
ISSN
  • 0197-9337 (ISSN-L)
  • 1096-9837
DOI
10.1002/esp.447
OpenAlex
W2084940108
Cited by
310
References
42
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 10
FWCI
9.54
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Earth Surface Processes and Landforms (publishedVersion)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion)
Funders
Vlaamse regering
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Tree Root and Stability Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
Keywords
concentrated flow erosion, soil erosion control, root density, belowground biomass, aboveground biomass, rill erosion, ephemeral gullies, plant density, cereals, grass cover, water erosion

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