Selection of Suitable Plant for Bioengineering Applications

Landslides are significant all over the world, especially in Kerala, which seriously threatens the surrounding environment. Mitigation techniques are required to stabilize the slopes. Various mitigation techniques include the use of retaining walls, gabion walls, and so on. Nevertheless, bioengineering techniques, in which live vegetation stabilizes slopes, are gaining popularity because of their environmental benefits, aesthetic value, cost-effectiveness, erosion control, and flexibility. Furthermore, these will allow the site to function with maximum resilience and sustainability with low maintenance requirements. The present study examines how transpiration rates can be used to select suitable plant species for bioengineering applications. Using a portable photosynthesis system in different environmental conditions, we measured the photosynthesis rates of two different locally available plant species, including jatropha, a woody plant, and grass species, lemon grass. Under all conditions of light, and humidity, lemon grass produces more transpiration and assimilation. These findings can be used for bioengineering techniques to select the most transpiration-efficient plants.