Background:

The use of vegetation is a recurrent practice for fixing soil and will depend on the characteristics of root and the root system.

Question and hypothesis:

Root chemical composition is different among species, and it is influenced by root diameter. Morphological classification is different among species.

Studied Species:

Broussonetia papyrifera, Decatropis bicolor, Dalea hospes, Caesalpinia mexicana and Zanthoxylum fagara.

Study area and dates:

Submontane scrub Chipinque Ecological Park, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon. June to November 2019.

Methods:

Roots by species were classified into three diameter categories (I 0.1-2.9 mm; II 3-5.9 mm; III 6-9.9 mm). Prior to chemical analysis, the bark was removed from the roots. The chemical composition was determined by sequential fractionation of the cell wall. Root morphology was classified by comparison with established methodologies.

Results:

A decreasing relationship was found in the hemicellulose and cellulose content with the increase in the root diameter, in all the species they were higher in the diametric categories I (0.1-2.9 mm). The highest lignin contents were found in category III (6-9.9 mm). The order of importance in terms of cellulose content for soil protection was: Dalea hospes > Broussonetia papyrifera > Caesalpinia mexicana > Decatropis bicolor > Zanthoxylum fagara.

Conclusions:

Based on root chemical composition and root system morphology, a revegetation method is proposed for soil fixation, Dalea hospes and Decatropis bicolor at the top of the slope, Zanthoxylum fagara and Caesalpinia mexicana in the middle and Broussonetia papyrifera at the foot of hillside.