Role of plant health parameters in understanding spatial heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity of vegetated soil: A case study of urban green infrastructure monitoring

Ankit Garg, Vinay Kumar Gadi*, Siraj Hossain, Abhinav, Ravi Karangat, Sreedeep Sekharan, Lingaraj Sahoo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book or Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceedingpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Development of green infrastructure is widely adopted as a key strategy for enhancing socio-ecological benefits in urban areas. Generally, four categories of vegetation exist in urban green infrastructure. Those are (i) vegetated soil under tree shade during entire daylight period, (ii) vegetated soil under tree shade during 3–4 h of daylight period, (iii) vegetated soil under light during entire daylight period and (iv) soil surface covered by mix grass and shredded leaves. Previous studies have shown that presence of vegetation may influence hydraulic conductivity. The main factors those govern such influence are found to be growth of vegetation, which is directly related to photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. Stomatal conductance is the measure of passage of carbon dioxide or water vapor through stomata of leaf. The objective of this study is to investigate role of plant health parameters in understanding spatial heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity in urban green infrastructure. Field monitoring of mix vegetated soil was conducted for about three months. Plant health is investigated in terms of vegetation growth and stomatal conductance. Stomatal conductance and hydraulic conductivity were measured in 150 locations in selected site once every month. Stomatal conductance was measured using an electronic sensor (leaf porometer). Mini disk infiltrometer was used to measure hydraulic conductivity. Stomatal conductance of mix grass under light for longer duration (around 8 h) was found to be higher than that under light for shorter duration (3–4 h) and shade. Hydraulic conductivity of mix grass cover under shade was found to be relatively low. As compared to stomatal conductance, preferential flow is found to be more dominant in governing the hydraulic conductivity.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics Volume 3 - Towards a Sustainable Geoenvironment
EditorsLiangtong Zhan, Yunmin Chen, Abdelmalek Bouazza
PublisherSpringer Berlin Heidelberg
Pages377-384
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9789811322266
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
Event8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, ICEG 2018 - Hangzhou, China
Duration: 28 Oct 20181 Nov 2018

Publication series

NameEnvironmental Science and Engineering
ISSN (Print)1863-5520
ISSN (Electronic)1863-5539

Conference

Conference8th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics, ICEG 2018
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHangzhou
Period28/10/181/11/18

Keywords

  • Hydraulic conductivity
  • Stomatal conductance
  • Vegetation growth

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