Mechanical properties and influencing factors of root-soil composites of typical herbaceous plants in a rocky desertification area of the central Yunnan Plateau

doi:10.14088/j.cnki.issn0439-8114.2026.08.009

Abstract

Abstract: In order to elucidate the soil reinforcement mechanisms of herbaceous plant roots in the rocky desertification area of the central Yunnan Plateau and to provide a theoretical basis for the scientific configuration of ecological restoration and vegetation slope protection engineering in such regions, this study took the typical herbaceous plants Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob., Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl, and Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. in this area as research objects, and systematically investigated the effects of root species, root number, and root distribution pattern on the mechanical properties of root-soil composites through single-root tensile tests and direct shear tests combined with an L₉(3³) orthogonal design. The results showed that the proportions of roots with a root diameter of 0.5-1.5 mm for Blumea balsamifera, Chromolaena odorata, and Nephrolepis cordifolia were 47.21%, 29.27%, and 65.74%, respectively. The root tensile strength ranked in the order of Nephrolepis cordifolia (28.10 MPa) >Chromolaena odorata (22.92 MPa) >Blumea balsamifera (18.81 MPa). The relationship between root diameter and root tensile strength followed a decreasing power function, with R² values ranging from 0.459 3 to 0.653 0, whereas the relationship between root diameter and maximum single-root tensile force followed an increasing power function, with R² values ranging from 0.877 7 to 0.962 2. Compared with bare soil, roots enhanced the shear strength of the root-soil composite, and this reinforcing effect was mainly manifested as an increase in cohesion, whereas changes in the internal friction angle contributed only marginally. Analysis of variance indicated that the cohesion of the root-soil composite was significantly correlated with both root number and root distribution pattern, and the internal friction angle was significantly correlated with root number, whereas root species had no significant effect on either cohesion or the internal friction angle. The optimal combination for the root-soil composite was A₂B₂C₃, i.e., using Nephrolepis cordifolia with six roots arranged in a vertical (90°)-inclined (45°) cross-distribution pattern, and the study confirmed that optimizing root number and root distribution pattern was key to improving the shear performance of the root-soil composite.

Key words: herbaceous plants, root-soil composite, mechanical properties, influencing factors, rocky desertification area, central Yunnan Plateau

CLC Number:

S774

CHEN Qiu-fan, LI Jiang-tao, SONG Guo-cang, LI Guo-dong. Mechanical properties and influencing factors of root-soil composites of typical herbaceous plants in a rocky desertification area of the central Yunnan Plateau[J]. HUBEI AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, 2026, 65(8): 58-64.

References

[1] 袁成军,熊康宁,容丽,等.喀斯特石漠化生态恢复中的生物多样性研究进展[J].地球与环境,2021,49(3):336-345.
[2] 曹建华,蒋忠诚,袁道先,等.岩溶动力系统与全球变化研究进展[J].中国地质,2017,44(5):874-900.
[3] 宁静,杨磊,曹建华,等.基于文献计量分析的岩溶区植被恢复研究现状与热点[J].中国岩溶,2023,42(2):321-336.
[4] 肖杰. 喀斯特石漠化治理混农林生态系统功能优化与生态产品供给能力提升研究[D].贵阳:贵州师范大学,2024.
[5] 罗鼎. 喀斯特石漠化治理水土漏失阻控与混农林业发展模式研究[D].贵阳:贵州师范大学,2024.
[6] 张巍,麦宝妍,陆建君,等.香根草枯萎对根-土复合体抗剪强度的影响[J].水土保持研究,2026,33(1):383-391.
[7] BILEN S, JACINTHE P A, SHRESTHA R, et al.Greenhouse gas fluxes in a no-tillage chronosequence in Central Ohio[J]. Soil and tillage research, 2022, 218:105313.
[8] COMINO E, DRUETTA A.The effect of Poaceae roots on the shear strength of soils in the Italian Alpine environment[J]. Soil and tillage research, 2010, 106(2):194-201.
[9] XING S K, ZHANG G H, ZHU P Z, et al.Variation in shear strength of soil-root system under five typical land use types on the Loess Plateau of China[J]. Catena, 2023, 222:106883.
[10] 廖拉拉. 喀斯特地区棕榈根系固土力学特性研究[D].贵阳:贵州大学,2024.
[11] 雷相科,张雪彪,杨启红,等.植物根系抗拉力学性能研究进展[J].浙江农林大学学报,2016,33(4):703-711.
[12] 唐菡. 喀斯特坡地草篱根系固土力学性能及其主要影响因素[D].重庆:西南大学,2020.
[13] HU H, BAO W K, HUANG L, et al.Shifting patterns in fine root distribution of four xerophytic species across soil structural gradients and years of growth[J]. Ecology and evolution, 2024, 14(2):e10889.
[14] 苏樑,宋同清,杜虎,等.喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复阶段细根生物量、形态特征及其影响因素[J].应用生态学报,2018,29(3):783-789.
[15] 梁千慧. 不同水分条件下黑麦草对喀斯特土壤深度的生长与生理响应[D].重庆:西南大学,2016.73.
[16] 贺振昭,党生,刘昌义,等.青海湖地区草本植物根系力学特性试验研究[J].中国水土保持,2017(4):44-48.
[17] AMIRI KHABOUSHAN E, EMAMI H, MOSADDEGHI M R, et al.Estimation of unsaturated shear strength parameters using easily-available soil properties[J]. Soil and tillage research, 2018, 184:118-127.
[18] NEGADI K, ARAB A, ELBOKL M K, et al.Triaxial compression tests of soil reinforced with fibers[J]. Journal of chemistry and materials research, 2015, 3:15-20.
[19] 志辉,格日乐,卢亚慧,等.沙棘根土复合体抗剪特性及其影响因素研究[J].水土保持研究,2025,32(6):184-191.
[20] 盖小刚,陈丽华,蒋坤云,等.4种乔木根系不同埋根方式根-土复合体的抗剪特性[J].林业科学,2014,50(9):105-111.
[21] ZHANG X L, FU Y M, PEI Q H, et al.Study on the root characteristics and effects on soil reinforcement of slope-protection vegetation in the Chinese Loess Plateau[J]. Forests, 2024, 15(3):464.
[22] ZHANG S J, MA J Y, LIU S M, et al.Effects of herbaceous plant roots on tensile strength of root-soil composite in Loess Hilly Region[J]. Catena, 2025, 260:109423.