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Biotechnical stabilization, involving vegetation such as trees and shrubs, is commonly employed to reinforce/stabilize soil masses. This research aimed to examine the interaction between soil and roots, focusing on two grass species readily found locally in Kashmir valley: a standard turf grass and a flood channel grass known for its extensive root system. Variables included root length, vegetation type, and root percentage, while strength assessments such as Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests and Direct Shear Tests (DST) were conducted. Three soils, including two naturally occurring and one artificially prepared in the laboratory, were examined for studies on S-R interaction. UCS values increased considerably for different soil types with the maximum enhancement seen in artificial soil wherein the UCS increased from 65 kPa to almost 400 kPa. Cohesion (c) also showed enhancement from 21 kPa in the control sample to 29 kPa for 1.0% root content and 25 mm root length. Micro-structural analysis was performed and the micrographs clearly showed signs of root surface roughness, adherence of soil particles and interlocking between the grains and root fibers. By stabilizing soil masses, roots can play an important role in slope stability, soil conservation, and other geotechnical applications.
Wani et al. (Fri,) studied this question.