Theory 62/Networks & Connectivity/Soil ecology
Roots Hold Soil by Network
The claim
Erosion resistance is set by the ratio of root network connectivity to root mass, so a sparse connected network resists more than a dense disconnected one.
01Mechanism
Soil is held where roots form continuous reinforcement; discontinuous roots add mass without adding strength.
02Prediction
Erosion should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Erosion tracking root mass would remove connectivity.