Hydrological Functionality of Plants and Its Application to Stormwater Management

Abstract

Watershed degradation due to poor stormwater management is a significant problem. Bioretention systems are a promising approach to the management of stormwater through the use of vegetated depressions. However, the long-term functionality of these systems is often compromised by sediment accumulation and reduced infiltration. The objective of this project was to analyze the influence of vegetation on the performance of bioretention systems. It was achieved through: 1) a review of the literature describing the interconnections between hydrology and plant physiology, 2) experimental analysis of the effect that woody vegetation has on soil hydraulic conductivity. The hydraulic conductivity of planted areas was compared with a control environment lacking vegetation of interest. The analysis indicated a positive correlation between the presence of aged woody plant stands and soil hydraulic conductivity. This increase in hydraulic conductivity has the potential to attenuate the reduction of soil permeability and infiltration over the long term.