Article
Agronomy
Chaobo Zhang, Qiang Zhang, Jing Jiang, Qihong Yang
Summary: This study conducted pullout tests on the roots of Hippophae rhamnoides L. to investigate the influence of root morphology and soil properties on pullout properties. The results showed that root diameter, burial depth, burial angle, soil moisture content, and soil bulk density all had significant effects on pullout properties. Root burial depth had the greatest influence, while burial angle had the least influence. This research provides valuable insights into the pullout properties of shrub plant roots and contributes to our understanding of soil reinforcement by plant roots.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Chia-Cheng Fan, Jin Zong Lu, Hsin Hung Chen
Summary: The resistance of plant roots in soil is influenced by soil water conditions, root length, and soil-root bond strength. Findings also suggest that root branching and interlocking of root hairs with surrounding undisturbed soils play a significant role in the pullout resistance of roots tested in the field.
Article
Soil Science
Xuemeng Su, Zhengchao Zhou, Jun 'e Liu, Peipei Wang, Junyang Liu, Qiujia Li, Fuwang Zhao
Summary: This study evaluated the correlations among root mechanical properties, root chemical compositions, and root parameters traits, and the effects of root traits on soil shear resistance in climax community species on the Loess Plateau. The study found that over 65% of the root parameter traits were distributed in the upper 20 cm of the soil and decreased with increasing soil layer. Plant roots enhanced the soil cohesion and the soil cohesion was negatively correlated with the soil layers. The root-soil composite cohesion can be explained by root surface area density (RSAD), root length density (RLD), and root diameter (D). This study provides theoretical guidance and data accumulation for the mechanical traits, soil reinforcement, and slope stability of climax community species roots in the Loess Plateau.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qihong Yang, Chaobo Zhang, Pengchong Liu, Jing Jiang
Summary: The study found that the root pullout resistance was closely related to the root diameter, length, and surface area, with surface area being a more significant factor affecting pullout resistance. The results also showed that there was a significant difference in peak pullout resistance between vertical and oblique pullout tests, indicating that the pulling direction plays a significant role in determining root reinforcement.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Amelia Bourceret, Rui Guan, Kristof Dorau, Tim Mansfeldt, Amin Omidbakhshfard, David B. Medeiros, Alisdair R. Fernie, Joerg Hofmann, Uwe Sonnewald, Jochen Mayer, Nina Gerlach, Marcel Bucher, Ruben Garrido-Oter, Stijn Spaepen, Paul Schulze-Lefert
Summary: Plant roots are inhabited by microbial communities called the root microbiota, which supports plant growth and health. We show in a maize field study that the root microbiota consists of stable and dynamic members. The dynamics of the microbial community appear to be driven by changes in the metabolic state of the roots over the life cycle of maize.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunyan Zhou, Wenchao Ma
Summary: Ecological reinforced soil retaining walls are a new type of support structure that combines soil reinforcement and vegetation protection technologies. This study used palm leaves instead of vegetation roots and found that increasing root density can significantly reduce the displacement, earth pressure, and tensile strain of the retaining wall. The roots can share horizontal earth pressure, thereby reducing reinforcement tension.
BULLETIN OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Mirza Shoaib, Bikram P. Banerjee, Matthew Hayden, Surya Kant
Summary: This review comprehensively discusses the importance of root architectural responses and root-microbe relationships in drought-resilient crop development. It highlights the continuous and complex processes involved in root responses to drought adaptation and the additional root traits and interactions among themselves. The review also emphasizes the significance of root contribution in improving soil structure and water holding capacity, and proposes various drought adaptive root ideotypes for different agroclimatic conditions.
Article
Soil Science
Yi-Fan Liu, Ling-Chao Meng, Ze Huang, Zhi-Hua Shi, Gao-Lin Wu
Summary: This study examines the root characteristics and soil mechanical properties of different grassland types to determine their contribution to soil erosion resistance. The results show that Bromus inermis has the strongest roots and highest soil erosion resistance among the five grasslands, and high root density may help resist external forces.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chaobo Zhang, Xiaohui Feng, Geng Qu, Qihong Yang, Jing Jiang
Summary: Root-soil mechanical interactions are crucial for soil reinforcement by plant roots. This study investigated the effect of root angles on root-soil mechanical interactions through pullout tests on alfalfa roots with different diameters and embedding angles. The results showed that root failure occurred through slippage and breakage, with a critical diameter of 0.35 mm. Peak pullout force and pullout energy increased with root diameter, while displacement decreased with both root diameter and embedding angle. Both peak pullout force and root-soil friction coefficient reached their maximum values at an embedding angle of 60 degrees, and pullout energy reached its maximum value at an embedding angle of 45 degrees. Pullout energy was suggested as a preferred index for evaluating root-soil mechanical interactions for different types of roots.
Review
Plant Sciences
Guoliang Hao, Laigui Wang, Xiangfeng Liu
Summary: Due to engineering construction, man-made slopes are formed, which can induce soil erosion and shallow landslides. The mechanical reinforcement effect of plant roots plays a vital role in slope reinforcement, and this paper discusses the research methods for this effect. The root mechanical reinforcement can be divided into main root anchorage and lateral root reinforcement, and experimental research, theoretical calculation models, and numerical simulations are used to quantify this effect. Different methods should be chosen based on the morphology of root growth. Direct shear tests are suitable for studying shallow root growth depth, while theoretical calculation models are commonly used for deeper roots. To reduce the error of the models, it is necessary to obtain high-precision experimental data in the field. Theoretical calculation models have been widely used and can be applied to any plant species. Although there may be a small amount of error in quantifying the actual mechanical reinforcement effect, it is acceptable. The models can also compare the root mechanical reinforcement effect of different plants, which is beneficial for selecting plants for slope reinforcement. Numerical simulations can be used as a supplementary tool, but there are challenges in addressing the relationship between roots and soil and establishing accurate root morphology.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
S. Feng, S. F. Huang, C. W. W. Ng, F. Q. Chen, X. Qian, N. K. Zhao
Summary: This experimental study aimed to investigate the short-term effects of Cynodon dactylon roots on the gas permeability and gas diffusion coefficient of differently compacted soils. The results showed that the root volume ratio had a greater impact on gas movement compared to other root characteristics. Macro-pores at the root-soil interface increased gas permeability and gas diffusion coefficient, but this effect was reduced when the root volume ratio was high due to roots occupying soil pores. Newly-developed empirical models successfully predicted the gas movement in rooted soil considering the root volume ratio.
Article
Soil Science
Emma Burak, Ian C. Dodd, John N. Quinton
Summary: Roots reinforce soil by acting as soil pins, dissipating shear stresses and anchoring the soil in place. The presence of root hairs appears to have a positive impact on the ability of roots to reinforce soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Trung Nghia Phan, Anthony Kwan Leung, Viroon Kamchoom, Suched Likitlersuang
Summary: Quantifying the effects of root decomposition due to herbicide on the biomechanical properties and root reinforcement of herbaceous species is important for land management strategies. This study found that root decomposition significantly reduced root tensile strength and breakage strain, as well as root reinforcement to soil. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between root diameter and strength. C. nemoralis exhibited a greater and faster loss of these properties compared to C. zizanioides.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaoyu Dou, Ruoshui Wang, Chaonan Li, Chenghao Zheng, Xuan Zhou
Summary: The irrational utilization of water resources in the Loess region hampers the sustainable development of tree-crop intercropping. Drip fertigation was employed to save water and improve water use efficiency (WUE) and crop yield in a two-year study. The study investigated the spatial distribution of soil water, plant roots, and water use pattern. The results showed that the distribution of soil water content (SWC) had a U shape, and the competition between apple and soybean roots increased with the intercropping years. The study concluded that drip irrigation at 80% field capacity (Fc) combined with 92 kg ha(-1) nitrogen fertilization can enhance the yield and WUE of the apple-soybean system on the Loess Plateau.
AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zahra Karimi, Ehsan Abdi, Azade Deljouei, Alessio Cislaghi, Anoushirvan Shirvany, Massimiliano Schwarz, Tristram C. Hales
Summary: Mangrove forests provide essential ecosystem services and contribute significantly to natural resources in tropical and semitropical regions. This study assesses the role of white mangrove roots in stabilizing coastlines and found that they play a crucial role in reducing coastal erosion.