Effect of mixed plant roots on saturated hydraulic conductivity and saturated water content of soil in the loess region

• DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2024.108784
• Publication Date: 2024-03-19T20:36:50Z
• Authors: Jianye Ma; Zhanbin Li; Peng Li; Bo Ma; Lie Xiao; Zhiwei Cui; Zhou Wang; Zhiqiang Min
• Keywords: Water retention curve

Soil hydraulic properties are essential for understanding soil hydrological and erosion processes. The importance of roots on parameters has been widely recognized, but current studies have focused mainly the root effect a single plant species. However, few carried out to investigate mixed parameters. Undisturbed samples were collected from three natural sampling sites with types four types. Both measured: saturated conductivity (Ks) water content (SW). Then effects Ks SW subsequently evaluated. results showed that at plants higher than those At all sites, both exhibited decreasing-increasing-decreasing trend increasing density. critical density above change was quantified. When fibrous tap roots, affected by while roots. influence achieved affecting organic matter, not directly SW. Based density, herbaceous coverage optimal estimated be 66.71%.