Skip to main content

Prediction of Vegetation-Induced Soil Suction Using Numerical Modelling and AI

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics Volume 2 (ICEG 2018)

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVENG))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Study of soil suction is important in design and implementation of slope stability and erosion control measures. In order to conduct a realistic analysis of performance of sustainable green infrastructure, it is essential to address the uncertainties in suction induced by vegetation due to variability in their leaf and root characteristics, evapotranspiration (ET) and initial conditions of the soil. The objective of this study is to investigate the combined influence leaf area index (LAI), root depth, ET rate and initial suction of soil on root water uptake-induced soil suction. A parametric numerical study was performed with 480 simulations using HYDRUS to carry out the finite element analysis. The study was done on completely decomposed granite (CDG) soil and vegetation species used was Schefflera heptaphylla. It was observed that although if independently considered, vegetation with higher LAI provided greater mechanical stability, when combined with higher ET rates or initial suction, the suction induced may lead to wilting of the vegetation. Artificial intelligence technique such as Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict matric suction at any given depth using the results obtained from the numerical simulations. Performance of the best model indicated that ANN was able to successfully predict the vegetation-induced matric suction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Zhang LL, Zheng YF, Zhang LM, Li X, Wang JH (2014) Probabilistic model calibration for soil slope under rainfall: effects of measurement duration and frequency in field monitoring. Géotechnique 64(5):365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Kodikara JK, Barbour SL, Fredlund DG (2000) Desiccation cracking of soil layers. Unsaturated soils Asia 90(5809):139

    Google Scholar 

  3. Tang CS, Cui YJ, Shi B, Tang AM, Liu C (2011) Desiccation and cracking behaviour of clay layer from slurry state under wetting–drying cycles. Geoderma 166(1):111–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fredlund DG, Morgenstern NR, Widger RA (1978) The shear strength of unsaturated soils. Can Geotech J 15(3):313–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Pollen N (2007) Temporal and spatial variability in root reinforcement of streambanks: accounting for soil shear strength and moisture. Catena 69(3):197–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Stokes A, Atger C, Bengough AG, Fourcaud T, Sidle RC (2009) Desirable plant root traits for protecting natural and engineered slopes against landslides. Plant Soil 324(1–2):1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tsaparas I, Rahardjo H, Toll DG, Leong EC (2003) Infiltration characteristics of two instrumented residual soil slopes. Can Geotech J 40:1012–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Luino F (2005) Sequence of instability processes triggered by heavy rainfall in the northern Italy. Geomorphology 66(1):13–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ng CW, Garg A, Leung AK, Hau BCH (2016) Relationships between leaf and root area indices and soil suction induced during drying–wetting cycles. Ecol Eng 91:113–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson GW, Fredlund DG, Barbour SL (1997) The effect of soil suction on evaporative fluxes from soil surfaces. Can Geotech J 34(1):145–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ng CWW, Woon KX, Leung AK, Chu LM (2013) Experimental investigation of induced suction distribution in a grass-covered soil. Ecol Eng 52:219–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Leung AK, Garg A, Ng CWW (2015) Effects of plant roots on soil-water retention and induced suction in vegetated soil. Eng Geol 193:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hau BC, Corlett RT (2003) Factors affecting the early survival and growth of native tree seedlings planted on a degraded hillside grassland in Hong Kong, China. Restor Ecol 11(4):483–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hu L, Wang Z, Du H, Huang B (2010) Differential accumulation of dehydrins in response to water stress for hybrid and common bermudagrass genotypes differing in drought tolerance. J Plant Physiol 167(2):103–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kool JB, Van Genuchten MT (1991) Hydrus: One-dimensional Variably Saturated Flow and Transport Model, Including Hysteresis and Root Water Uptake; Version 3.3. US Salinity Laboratory

    Google Scholar 

  16. Garg A, Leung AK, Ng CWW (2015) Transpiration reduction and root distribution functions for a non-crop species Schefflera heptaphylla. Catena 135:78–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nag A, Adamala S, Raghuwanshi NS, Singh R, Bandyopadhyay A (2014) Estimation and ranking of reference evapotranspiration for different spatial scales in India. J Indian Water Resour Soc 34(3)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Tang CS, Shi B, Liu C, Suo WB, Gao L (2011) Experimental characterization of shrinkage and desiccation cracking in thin clay layer. Appl Clay Sci 52(1–2):69–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Garg A, Ng CWW (2015) Investigation of soil density effect on suction induced due to root water uptake by Schefflera heptaphylla. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sc 178(4):586–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nik Norsyahariati Nik Daud .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Priya, M.I., Garg, A., Sreedeep, S., Sarmah, A., Daud, N.N.N. (2019). Prediction of Vegetation-Induced Soil Suction Using Numerical Modelling and AI. In: Zhan, L., Chen, Y., Bouazza, A. (eds) Proceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics Volume 2. ICEG 2018. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2224-2_43

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics