The Applicability of the Exposed Roots of Cupressus sempervirens L. var horizontalis for the Estimation of Soil Erosion in Hassan Abad, Mazandaran Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc., Department of Soil Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

2 Assistant Professor Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Karaj Islamic Azad University IRAN

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Wood Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Anatomical changes of the exposed roots in Cupressus sempervirens L. var horizontalis were used to
estimate soil erosion in Hassan Abad valley, Chaloos, Iran. A total of 30 exposed roots, for five trees,
were used to estimate erosion. Cross-sections of 20 μm were papered and the first year of exposure by
erosion was identified. We finally estimated the mean annual erosion. The statistical relationship of
the mean annual erosion with the percentage of the plant coverage, geographical aspects and slopes
were investigated. The mean erosion of the study area has been estimated around 0.5 mm per year.
There was negative relationship between the annual erosion and slope as well as the percentage of the
plant coverage. The samples obtained in southern and western aspects showed higher annual erosions.
We concluded that anatomical changes of exposed roots of C. sempervirens are valuable tools to date
erosion events, however, the responses of diverse species under different types of erosion remains to
be studied in future.

Keywords

References

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Forest and Wood Products
Volume 67, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
October 2014
Pages 411-421

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