TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic effects of drip irrigation and vegetation on the stability of biochar-stabilized expansive soil slopes
AU - Jiang, Mingjie
AU - Lu, Chongzhan
AU - Wang, Ming
AU - Mei, Guoxiong
AU - Garg, Ankit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2026/3
Y1 - 2026/3
N2 - Existing studies have demonstrated that cracking is a fundamental cause of soil slope instability, while uneven water evaporation is the primary factor contributing to crack development. Appropriate moisture management measures can effectively reduce cracking risks. Therefore, investigating the mechanisms by which drip irrigation technology and vegetation influence expansive soil slopes holds significant theoretical and engineering importance. This study established four slope models: Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (BAES), Drip-Irrigated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (DI-BAES), Vegetated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (V-BAES), and Drip-Irrigated Vegetated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (DI-V-BAES). An outdoor slope model box test was conducted over an entire summer season (100 days) to examine the effects of drip irrigation and vegetation on shallow stability of biochar-amended expansive soil slopes. Results show that drip irrigation and vegetation significantly impact the shallow stability. The drip irrigation system effectively maintains slope soil moisture through continuous water supply, thereby reducing soil drying and crack formation. Vegetation substantially improves soil shear strength, reduces soil scouring, and enhances erosion resistance through root reinforcement and canopy coverage. The combination of both measures further optimizes slope stability, with the DI-V-BAES model demonstrating the best performance in maintaining temperature stability, moisture content stability, reducing fissure rates, and improving scour resistance. This approach significantly enhances the overall stability and erosion resistance of expansive soil slopes, representing an effective measure for long-term slope stability. Additionally, drip irrigation promotes vegetation growth, increasing root density and slope-holding capacity, while vegetation improves soil cohesion and internal friction angle through root system development. In conclusion, the synergistic management model of drip irrigation and vegetation provides theoretical foundations and practical guidance for expansive soil slope protection.
AB - Existing studies have demonstrated that cracking is a fundamental cause of soil slope instability, while uneven water evaporation is the primary factor contributing to crack development. Appropriate moisture management measures can effectively reduce cracking risks. Therefore, investigating the mechanisms by which drip irrigation technology and vegetation influence expansive soil slopes holds significant theoretical and engineering importance. This study established four slope models: Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (BAES), Drip-Irrigated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (DI-BAES), Vegetated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (V-BAES), and Drip-Irrigated Vegetated Biochar-Amended Expansive Soil Slope (DI-V-BAES). An outdoor slope model box test was conducted over an entire summer season (100 days) to examine the effects of drip irrigation and vegetation on shallow stability of biochar-amended expansive soil slopes. Results show that drip irrigation and vegetation significantly impact the shallow stability. The drip irrigation system effectively maintains slope soil moisture through continuous water supply, thereby reducing soil drying and crack formation. Vegetation substantially improves soil shear strength, reduces soil scouring, and enhances erosion resistance through root reinforcement and canopy coverage. The combination of both measures further optimizes slope stability, with the DI-V-BAES model demonstrating the best performance in maintaining temperature stability, moisture content stability, reducing fissure rates, and improving scour resistance. This approach significantly enhances the overall stability and erosion resistance of expansive soil slopes, representing an effective measure for long-term slope stability. Additionally, drip irrigation promotes vegetation growth, increasing root density and slope-holding capacity, while vegetation improves soil cohesion and internal friction angle through root system development. In conclusion, the synergistic management model of drip irrigation and vegetation provides theoretical foundations and practical guidance for expansive soil slope protection.
KW - Biochar
KW - Drip irrigation
KW - Expansive soil slope
KW - Slope condition
KW - Soil change
KW - Vegetation
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026485317
U2 - 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109761
DO - 10.1016/j.catena.2025.109761
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105026485317
SN - 0341-8162
VL - 264
JO - Catena
JF - Catena
M1 - 109761
ER -