Root distribution characteristics of typical herbaceous plants and their effects on soil physicochemical properties on the Loess Plateau

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023446

Abstract

Abstract:

Extensive vegetation restoration has been implemented to control serious soil erosion on the Loess Plateau， China， and the ecological environment has improved. Understanding the beneficial effects of plant roots on soil properties will be helpful for further systematic research aimed at optimizing vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau， and will provide a scientific reference for subsequent ecological restoration in this area. In this study， we focused on Stipa bungeana and Artemisia gmelinii growing naturally on the Loess Plateau. Land that had been abandoned for 1 year served as the control. The root characteristics of the two plant species and soil physicochemical properties were determined， the distribution of roots in different size classes and its relationship with the soil physicochemical properties were analyzed. The results showed that： 1） There were significant differences in root characteristics between S. bungeana and A. gmelinii. Compared with A. gmelinii， S. bungeana had higher root length density （RLD） and root surface area density （RSAD）. In addition， the proportion of very fine roots （diameter， D<0.5 mm） was higher in S. bungeana （94.73%） than in A. gmelinii （90.20%）. Compared with S. bungeana， A. gmelinii had an obvious taproot advantage， with a higher root mass density， mean diameter， and root volume density. The proportions of coarse roots RLD （16.28%） and RSAD （32.85%） were significantly higher in A. gmelinii than in S. bungeana. 2） Compared with bare land， the plots with S. bungeana and A. gmelinii showed significantly better soil structure and stability. The roots of S. bungeana and A. gmelinii were concentrated in the 0-20 cm soil horizon， which had the greatest influence on the physicochemical properties of the topsoil. The soil aggregate stability and soil water retention were highest in the plots containing A. gmelinii， and the mean weight diameter （MWD）（2.04 mm）， capillary water capacity （24.69%）， and saturated water content （34.93%） of soil in those plots were 4.33-times， 1.36-times， and 1.31-times higher than their respective values in soil in bare land. The soil organic matter （SOM） content （7.23 g·kg^-1） was highest in the plots containing S. bungeana. 3） The plant root characteristics significantly affected soil properties. The RLD and RSAD of fine roots had the most significant effect on soil physicochemical properties， and were significantly negatively correlated （P<0.05） with soil bulk density and positively correlated with soil porosity （P<0.05）. The proportion of very fine roots （D<0.5 mm） was significantly positively correlated （P<0.01） with SOM content. The results of principal component analysis showed that the MWD， SOM content， and soil water content were the soil properties showing the largest differences between plots containing S. bungeana and those containing A. gmelinii.

Key words: Loess Plateau, plant community, root traits, soil physicochemical properties

Fang LIU, Pei-pei WANG, Yu-ying CAO, Jun-e LIU, Zheng-chao ZHOU. Root distribution characteristics of typical herbaceous plants and their effects on soil physicochemical properties on the Loess Plateau[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2024, 33(10): 1-13.

Figures/Tables 15

References 46

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坡点Slope code	经度Longitude （E）	纬度Latitude （N）	海拔Elevation （m）	坡度Slope （°）	砂粒Sand （%）	粉粒Silt （%）	黏粒Clay （%）
长芒草S. bungeana-1	110°22′12″	38°47′33″	1221.60	13	59.00	33.93	4.08
长芒草S. bungeana-2	110°22′09″	38°47′38″	1224.12	15	56.72	35.34	4.94
长芒草S. bungeana-3	110°22′08″	38°47′40″	1218.77	15	54.27	40.49	5.25
铁杆蒿A. gmelinii-1	110°22′12″	38°47′34″	1228.15	15	58.18	36.67	5.15
铁杆蒿A. gmelinii-2	110°22′12″	38°47′35″	1209.74	13	52.75	41.57	5.69
铁杆蒿A.gmelinii-3	110°22′12″	38°47′35″	1205.14	16	51.62	43.70	4.67
裸地CK	110°21′44″	38°47′49″	1131.42	16	70.12	25.90	3.98

坡点Slope code	经度Longitude （E）	纬度Latitude （N）	海拔Elevation （m）	坡度Slope （°）	砂粒Sand （%）	粉粒Silt （%）	黏粒Clay （%）
长芒草S. bungeana-1	110°22′12″	38°47′33″	1221.60	13	59.00	33.93	4.08
长芒草S. bungeana-2	110°22′09″	38°47′38″	1224.12	15	56.72	35.34	4.94
长芒草S. bungeana-3	110°22′08″	38°47′40″	1218.77	15	54.27	40.49	5.25
铁杆蒿A. gmelinii-1	110°22′12″	38°47′34″	1228.15	15	58.18	36.67	5.15
铁杆蒿A. gmelinii-2	110°22′12″	38°47′35″	1209.74	13	52.75	41.57	5.69
铁杆蒿A.gmelinii-3	110°22′12″	38°47′35″	1205.14	16	51.62	43.70	4.67
裸地CK	110°21′44″	38°47′49″	1131.42	16	70.12	25.90	3.98

植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	根长密度Root length density （cm·cm^-3）			占根系总根长百分比 Percentage of total root length （%）
植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	0~10 cm	10~20 cm	20~30 cm	占根系总根长百分比 Percentage of total root length （%）
长芒草 S. bungeana	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	1.629±0.884a	0.548±0.291a	0.193±0.100a	94.73
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.107±0.087b	0.012±0.006b	0.003±0.002b	4.76
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.013±0.003b	-	-	0.51
铁杆蒿 A. gmelinii	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	0.644±0.313a	0.363±0.164a	0.084±0.052a	71.26
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.129±0.088b	0.059±0.015b	0.011±0.002b	12.46
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.186±0.065b	0.060±0.024b	0.017±0.004b	16.28

植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	根长密度Root length density （cm·cm^-3）			占根系总根长百分比 Percentage of total root length （%）
植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	0~10 cm	10~20 cm	20~30 cm	占根系总根长百分比 Percentage of total root length （%）
长芒草 S. bungeana	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	1.629±0.884a	0.548±0.291a	0.193±0.100a	94.73
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.107±0.087b	0.012±0.006b	0.003±0.002b	4.76
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.013±0.003b	-	-	0.51
铁杆蒿 A. gmelinii	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	0.644±0.313a	0.363±0.164a	0.084±0.052a	71.26
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.129±0.088b	0.059±0.015b	0.011±0.002b	12.46
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.186±0.065b	0.060±0.024b	0.017±0.004b	16.28

植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	根表面积密度Root surface area density （cm²·cm^-3）			占根系总根表面积百分比 Percentage of total root surface area （%）
植物类型 Plant type	径级 Diameter （D， mm）	0~10 cm	10~20 cm	20~30 cm	占根系总根表面积百分比 Percentage of total root surface area （%）
长芒草 S. bungeana	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	0.141±0.074a	0.042±0.020a	0.015±0.007a	90.20
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.019±0.016b	0.002±0.001b	0.001±0.000b	9.54
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.011±0.001b	-	-	0.26
铁杆蒿 A. gmelinii	极细根（V）（0≤D<0.5）	0.044±0.025a	0.027±0.011a	0.006±0.004a	45.42
	细根（F）（0.5≤D<2.0）	0.025±0.016a	0.012±0.003b	0.002±0.002b	21.73
	粗根（C）（D≥2.0）	0.043±0.013a	0.021±0.007ab	0.003±0.001b	32.85