UPROOTING RESISTANCE ANDMORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF PLANTS USED IN EROSION MITIGATION

Uprooting resistance of plants by erosion is influenced by morphological traits. This study established the mathematical relationship between uprooting resistance and morphological traits for various plants. Several lateral uprooting tests were carried out to determine the uprooting forces for twelve different plant species. Measurement of the surface and underground traits of the plants was carried out using basic measurement devices .The soil shear strength was determined at various depths of in two different locations. Statistical tools like ANOVA, regression, correlation, discriminant and t-test were employed in the analysis of data obtained. The soil cohesion increased with soil depth from 65.5KPa to 125.5KPa at 5cm and 10cm but there was no significant difference in the soil shear strength between locations.