Review of the effect of river vegetation on sediment transport and river morphology and erosion prevention
Mohd Nadim Ahmed, Berlin Mohanadhas
Abstract
River systems play a crucial role in transporting water, sediment, and organic matter from the upper catchments to the downstream. Among the various processes shaping river channels, bedload transport, involving the movement of coarse sediment particles along the river bed, is fundamental. The presence of Vegetation in river channels significantly impacts bedload transport dynamics and shows both supportive and obstructive effects on bedload transport dynamics. This review focuses on the impact of river vegetation on sediment transport and erosion prevention, including hydraulic, geomorphic, and ecological relationships. This review provides a detailed overview of the current literature, addressing the hydraulic implications of vegetation on flow dynamics and shear stress distribution, its effects on sediment deposition, trapping, and stabilization, its implications for channel morphology and bar growth, and the complex feedback mechanisms among vegetation, flow hydraulics, and sediment transport. In conclusion, this review represents significant knowledge deficiencies and proposes approaches for future research experience to investigate the interplay between vegetation and bedload in fluvial systems.