Influence of root reinforcement of forest species on the slope stability of sierra madre oriental, Mexico

Soil erosion and sediment related disasters are one of the most serious environmental problem in Mexico, mainly product of deforestation practices, land use changes and hydro-meteorological events like heavy rainfalls and hurricanes. The application of vegetative measures to restore affected sites should be a priority on mountainous countries like Mexico. The objectives of this study are to estimate the soil reinforcement by roots and to analyze the increment of Factor of safety (Fs) of a studied slope on Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico from two different scenarios: Rainfall and no-rainfall. The estimation of the additional soil reinforcement provided by roots (AS) of the four species analyzed ranged from 0.01 to 0.22 kN/m2 (Quercus rysopylla), from 0.006 to 0.08 kN/m2 (Pinus pseudostrobus), from 0.01 to 0.46 kN/m2 (Acacia berlandieri) and from 0.01 to 0.05 kN/m2 (Ligustrum lucidurri). The results of the finite element method (FEM) analysis in the different scenarios indicate that the slope is in a stable condition. However, the presence of roots on the slope have a bigger positive effect during rainfall conditions, the Fs increment is especially notable in Acacia berlendieri (6.36%) and Quercus rysopylla (3.63%). In other hand, in no-rainfall conditions the F. increment for the same species is Acacia berlendieri (4%) and Quercus rysopylla (1.71%). The species that contributed the best to the stability of the studied slope was Acacia berlendieri followed by Quercus rysopylla, Pinus pseudostrobus and Ligustrum lucidum. The F, improvement due the roots of the species living in Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico is a very important contribution to understand and to clarify the forest species potential contribution to slope stabilization in the study area.