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Tree Roots Anchoring and Binding Soil: Reducing Landslide Risk in Indonesian Agroforestry

Author

Listed:
  • Kurniatun Hairiah

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Jl Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia)

  • Widianto Widianto

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Jl Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia)

  • Didik Suprayogo

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Jl Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia)

  • Meine Van Noordwijk

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Jl Veteran, Malang 65145, Indonesia
    World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Bogor 16155, Indonesia
    Plant Production Systems, Wageningen University & Research, 6700 AK Wageningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Tree root systems stabilize hillslopes and riverbanks, reducing landslide risk, but related data for the humid tropics are scarce. We tested fractal allometry hypotheses on differences in the vertical and horizontal distribution of roots of trees commonly found in agroforestry systems and on shear strength of soil in relation to root length density in the topsoil. Proximal roots of 685 trees (55 species; 4–20 cm stem diameter at breast height, dbh) were observed across six landscapes in Indonesia. The Index of Root Anchoring (IRA) and the Index of Root Binding (IRB) were calculated as ΣD v 2 /dbh 2 and as ΣD h 2 /dbh 2 , respectively, where D v and D h are the diameters of vertical (angle > 45°) and horizontal (angle < 45°) proximal roots. High IRA values (>1.0) were observed in coffee and several common shade trees. Common fruit trees in coffee agroforestry had low medium values, indicating modest ‘soil anchoring’. Where root length density (L rv ) in the topsoil is less than 10 km m −3 shear strength largely depends on texture; for L rv > 10 shear strength was >1.5 kg m −2 at the texture tested. In conclusion, a mix of tree species with deep roots and grasses with intense fine roots provides the highest hillslope and riverbank stability.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurniatun Hairiah & Widianto Widianto & Didik Suprayogo & Meine Van Noordwijk, 2020. "Tree Roots Anchoring and Binding Soil: Reducing Landslide Risk in Indonesian Agroforestry," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:8:p:256-:d:393212
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Suwarno & Anang Widhi Nirwansyah & Sutomo & Ismail Demirdag & Esti Sarjanti & Dhi Bramasta, 2022. "The Existence of Indigenous Knowledge and Local Landslide Mitigation: A Case Study of Banyumas People in Gununglurah Village, Central Java, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Budiman Achmad & Sanudin & Mohamad Siarudin & Ary Widiyanto & Dian Diniyati & Aris Sudomo & Aditya Hani & Eva Fauziyah & Endah Suhaendah & Tri Sulistyati Widyaningsih & Wuri Handayani & Dewi Maharani , 2022. "Traditional Subsistence Farming of Smallholder Agroforestry Systems in Indonesia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-33, July.
    3. Meine van Noordwijk, 2021. "Agroforestry-Based Ecosystem Services," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-8, July.
    4. Shihan Yang & Xiaodong Ji & Donghui Zhao & Shusen Liu, 2023. "Response of the Anchoring Performance at Betula platyphylla ’s Root–Soil Interface to Cyclic Loading," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Shusen Liu & Xiaodong Ji & Xiao Zhang, 2022. "Effects of Soil Properties and Tree Species on Root–Soil Anchorage Characteristics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Filippo Brandolini & Chiara Compostella & Manuela Pelfini & Sam Turner, 2023. "The Evolution of Historic Agroforestry Landscape in the Northern Apennines (Italy) and Its Consequences for Slope Geomorphic Processes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Ylva Nyberg & Caroline Musee & Emmanuel Wachiye & Mattias Jonsson & Johanna Wetterlind & Ingrid Öborn, 2020. "Effects of Agroforestry and Other Sustainable Practices in the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project (KACP)," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-22, October.
    8. Meine van Noordwijk, 2021. "Agroforestry-Based Ecosystem Services: Reconciling Values of Humans and Nature in Sustainable Development," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-24, July.
    9. Meine van Noordwijk & Richard Coe & Fergus L. Sinclair & Eike Luedeling & Jules Bayala & Catherine W. Muthuri & Peter Cooper & Roeland Kindt & Lalisa Duguma & Christine Lamanna & Peter A. Minang, 2021. "Climate change adaptation in and through agroforestry: four decades of research initiated by Peter Huxley," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(5), pages 1-33, June.
    10. Sikstus Gusli & Sri Sumeni & Riyami Sabodin & Ikram Hadi Muqfi & Mustakim Nur & Kurniatun Hairiah & Daniel Useng & Meine van Noordwijk, 2020. "Soil Organic Matter, Mitigation of and Adaptation to Climate Change in Cocoa–Based Agroforestry Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, September.
    11. Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho & Tyas Mutiara Basuki & Irfan Budi Pramono & Endang Savitri & Purwanto & Dewi Retna Indrawati & Nining Wahyuningrum & Rahardyan Nugroho Adi & Yonky Indrajaya & Agung , 2022. "Forty Years of Soil and Water Conservation Policy, Implementation, Research and Development in Indonesia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-33, March.

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