Effects of typical herbaceous plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface on the Loess Plateau

doi:10.11686/cyxb2025237

Abstract

Abstract:

Plant roots have a significant effect on the electrochemical properties of the surface of soil colloids. To quantify the response relationship between plant roots and the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface， we analyzed and compared soil colloids and roots of typical herbaceous plants from three different sampling areas on the Loess Plateau （Shenmu， Ansai， and Yongshou）. The root morphological parameters and electrochemical properties of soil colloids’ surface were measured and analyzed. The soil surface electric field， surface potential， surface charge quantity， specific surface area， and surface charge density in different sampling sites in study areas ranged from 1.23×10⁸ to 28.46×10⁸ V·m^-1， from -149.91 to -81.33 mV， from 7.26 to 24.34 cmol_c·kg^-1， from 8.32 to 147.38 m2·g^-1， and from 0.09 to 2.02 C·m^-2， respectively. Root morphological parameters （root length density， root surface area density， and root volume density） were significantly correlated with the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Fine root （0 mm<diameter≤0.5 mm） was the key factor affecting the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface. The root surface area density had exponential negative relationships with soil surface electric field， surface potential， and surface charge density， and exponential positive correlations with soil specific surface area and surface charge quantity （R2=0.35-0.67， P<0.01）. The influence of plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface was mainly indirect， primarily through changes in soil physicochemical properties. Moreover， because of differences in plant root growth and the feedback mechanisms between roots and soil in different sampling areas， the impact of plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface was most significant in Shenmu， followed by Ansai and Yongshou. The findings of this study clarify the impact of root systems on the electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface and provide a scientific basis for the restoration of soil functions and degraded ecosystems.

Key words: plant roots, soil colloid, surface electrochemical properties, Loess Plateau

Jun-yang LIU, Zheng-chao ZHOU, Xue-meng SU. Effects of typical herbaceous plant roots on electrochemical properties of the soil colloid surface on the Loess Plateau[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2026, 35(7): 80-91.

Figures/Tables 10

References 33

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编号 Code	地理位置 Geographical location	海拔 Elevation （m）	坡向 Aspect （°）	坡度 Gradient （°）
SM_TG	38.79° N，110.37° E	1221.60	305	13
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1224.12	320	15
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1218.77	289	15
SM_CM	38.79° N，110.37° E	1228.15	286	15
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1209.74	264	13
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1205.14	271	16
SM_DZ	38.80° N，110.36° E	1131.42	334	16
	38.80° N，110.36° E	1107.19	319	18
	38.80° N，110.36° E	1107.19	303	15
AS_TG	36.80° N，109.28° E	1262.66	23	18
	36.79° N，109.28° E	1234.61	271	16
	36.79° N，109.28° E	1228.53	330	15
AS_CM	36.80° N，109.28° E	1281.48	309	13
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1257.69	278	15
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1249.07	330	14
AS_DZ	36.80° N，109.28° E	1251.15	49	15
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1231.23	310	14
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1240.34	301	17
YS_TG	34.84° N，108.13° E	1278.85	286	15
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1283.51	313	18
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1225.16	270	15
YS_CM	34.84° N，108.13° E	1238.85	330	13
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1253.51	310	15
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1243.45	295	15
YS_DZ	34.84° N，108.13° E	1210.21	263	14
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1252.76	361	17
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1243.28	254	16

编号 Code	地理位置 Geographical location	海拔 Elevation （m）	坡向 Aspect （°）	坡度 Gradient （°）
SM_TG	38.79° N，110.37° E	1221.60	305	13
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1224.12	320	15
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1218.77	289	15
SM_CM	38.79° N，110.37° E	1228.15	286	15
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1209.74	264	13
	38.79° N，110.37° E	1205.14	271	16
SM_DZ	38.80° N，110.36° E	1131.42	334	16
	38.80° N，110.36° E	1107.19	319	18
	38.80° N，110.36° E	1107.19	303	15
AS_TG	36.80° N，109.28° E	1262.66	23	18
	36.79° N，109.28° E	1234.61	271	16
	36.79° N，109.28° E	1228.53	330	15
AS_CM	36.80° N，109.28° E	1281.48	309	13
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1257.69	278	15
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1249.07	330	14
AS_DZ	36.80° N，109.28° E	1251.15	49	15
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1231.23	310	14
	36.80° N，109.28° E	1240.34	301	17
YS_TG	34.84° N，108.13° E	1278.85	286	15
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1283.51	313	18
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1225.16	270	15
YS_CM	34.84° N，108.13° E	1238.85	330	13
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1253.51	310	15
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1243.45	295	15
YS_DZ	34.84° N，108.13° E	1210.21	263	14
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1252.76	361	17
	34.84° N，108.13° E	1243.28	254	16

编码Code	有机质 Organic matter （g·kg^-1）	pH	黏粒 Clay （%）	粉粒 Silt （%）	砂粒 Sand （%）	氧化铝 Al₂O₃ （%）	氧化钙 CaO （%）	氧化铁 Fe₂O₃ （%）
SM_TG	7.02±4.10ABb	7.85±0.14Bab	9.24±0.73ABb	53.61±3.12ABb	37.15±3.85ABa	11.09±0.41Ab	6.45±0.32Aa	3.98±0.18Ab
SM_CM	11.06±3.02Ab	7.70±0.04Bb	12.26±3.02Ab	54.89±7.53Ab	32.85±10.56Ba	11.18±0.23Ab	4.74±0.87Bb	3.75±0.32ABb
SM_DZ	1.90±0.37Bb	8.07±0.05Aa	5.90±1.08Bb	42.68±6.06Bc	51.42±7.05Aa	10.52±0.09Bc	4.88±0.48Bc	3.45±0.18Bc
AS_TG	6.20±2.03Ab	7.95±0.23Aa	8.42±1.11Ab	56.12±1.88Ab	35.46±2.82Aa	10.88±0.05Ab	8.22±0.69Aa	3.82±0.06Ab
AS_CM	8.12±5.41Ab	7.95±0.15Aa	10.13±3.24Ab	58.50±4.49Ab	31.37±5.56Aa	11.72±0.81Ab	7.42±1.37Aa	4.14±0.34Ab
AS_DZ	3.64±0.61Ab	7.86±0.06Ab	8.29±0.17Ab	59.31±0.12Ab	32.41±0.18Ab	11.10±0.13Ab	7.63±0.21Aa	4.01±0.03Ab
YS_TG	53.39±12.34Aa	7.57±0.12Bb	24.32±1.70Aa	68.92±4.12Aa	6.76±1.15Ab	12.57±0.42Aa	6.54±1.63Aa	5.17±0.25Aa
YS_CM	38.88±12.08ABa	7.64±0.10ABb	23.64±4.73Aa	70.14±4.00Aa	6.12±1.21Ab	12.75±0.07Aa	6.35±0.69Aab	5.17±0.04Aa
YS_DZ	27.07±2.01Ba	7.81±0.02Ab	21.35±2.99Aa	72.27±1.27Aa	6.17±2.01Ac	12.83±0.02Aa	6.30±0.10Ab	5.12±0.02Aa

编码Code	有机质 Organic matter （g·kg^-1）	pH	黏粒 Clay （%）	粉粒 Silt （%）	砂粒 Sand （%）	氧化铝 Al₂O₃ （%）	氧化钙 CaO （%）	氧化铁 Fe₂O₃ （%）
SM_TG	7.02±4.10ABb	7.85±0.14Bab	9.24±0.73ABb	53.61±3.12ABb	37.15±3.85ABa	11.09±0.41Ab	6.45±0.32Aa	3.98±0.18Ab
SM_CM	11.06±3.02Ab	7.70±0.04Bb	12.26±3.02Ab	54.89±7.53Ab	32.85±10.56Ba	11.18±0.23Ab	4.74±0.87Bb	3.75±0.32ABb
SM_DZ	1.90±0.37Bb	8.07±0.05Aa	5.90±1.08Bb	42.68±6.06Bc	51.42±7.05Aa	10.52±0.09Bc	4.88±0.48Bc	3.45±0.18Bc
AS_TG	6.20±2.03Ab	7.95±0.23Aa	8.42±1.11Ab	56.12±1.88Ab	35.46±2.82Aa	10.88±0.05Ab	8.22±0.69Aa	3.82±0.06Ab
AS_CM	8.12±5.41Ab	7.95±0.15Aa	10.13±3.24Ab	58.50±4.49Ab	31.37±5.56Aa	11.72±0.81Ab	7.42±1.37Aa	4.14±0.34Ab
AS_DZ	3.64±0.61Ab	7.86±0.06Ab	8.29±0.17Ab	59.31±0.12Ab	32.41±0.18Ab	11.10±0.13Ab	7.63±0.21Aa	4.01±0.03Ab
YS_TG	53.39±12.34Aa	7.57±0.12Bb	24.32±1.70Aa	68.92±4.12Aa	6.76±1.15Ab	12.57±0.42Aa	6.54±1.63Aa	5.17±0.25Aa
YS_CM	38.88±12.08ABa	7.64±0.10ABb	23.64±4.73Aa	70.14±4.00Aa	6.12±1.21Ab	12.75±0.07Aa	6.35±0.69Aab	5.17±0.04Aa
YS_DZ	27.07±2.01Ba	7.81±0.02Ab	21.35±2.99Aa	72.27±1.27Aa	6.17±2.01Ac	12.83±0.02Aa	6.30±0.10Ab	5.12±0.02Aa

指标 Index	根系径级 Root diameter grade	表面电场 Surface electric field	表面电势 Surface potential	表面电荷数量 Surface charge number	比表面积 Specific surface area	表面电荷密度 Surface charge density
根长密度 Root length density	全部根系Total roots	-0.407*	-0.450*	0.564**	0.393*	-0.407*
	0 mm<d≤0.5 mm	-0.385*	-0.424*	0.520**	0.393*	-0.385*
	0.5 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.308	-0.351	0.519**	0.152	-0.308
	0 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.406*	-0.503*	0.562**	0.394*	-0.406*
	d>2 mm	-0.268	-0.342	0.511**	0.133	-0.268
根表面积密度 Root surface area density	全部根系Total roots	-0.423*	-0.448*	0.601**	0.314	-0.423*
	0 mm<d≤0.5 mm	-0.409*	-0.453*	0.509**	0.382*	-0.409*
	0.5 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.269	-0.275	0.461*	0.106	-0.269
	0 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.425*	-0.479*	0.596**	0.320	-0.425*
	d>2 mm	-0.266	-0.345	0.516**	0.143	-0.267
根体积密度 Root volume density	全部根系Total roots	-0.345	-0.385*	0.551**	0.199	-0.345
	0 mm<d≤0.5 mm	-0.358	-0.365	0.388*	0.273	-0.358
	0.5 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.288	-0.321	0.487**	0.147	-0.288
	0 mm<d≤2 mm	-0.354	-0.385*	0.543**	0.204	-0.354
	d>2 mm	-0.265	-0.337	0.517**	0.153	-0.265