A review of the mechanical effects of plant roots on concentrated flow erosion rates

Vannoppen, Wouter; Vanmaercke, Matthias; Baets, Sarah De; Poesen, Jean

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2015.08.011

Cited by 242 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…Root length density (RLD) has been found to correlate well with the soil detachment ratio (SDR) (SI Appendix, Quantifying the Erosion-Reducing Potential of Drepanophycus Rhizomes) (39). The rhizome length density within the Xujiachong paleosols is estimated to be 0.8-1.3 km/m 3 , a value at the lower end of the range for modern plant roots (39), and, by using the nonlinear regression function between RLD and SDR resulting from concentrated flow (39), weak to modest effects of rhizomes in reducing soil erosion can be expected (SI Appendix, Table S8). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although Drepanophycus is characterized by limited xylem and wide cortex tissues (16,32,33), the rhizomatous growth of this plant could produce dense vegetation cover (SI Appendix, Fig. S19), which alone would have protected the substrate against surface erosion while increasing trapping of fine particles (4,39), as has been demonstrated in numerous studies of the erosion-reducing effects of modern plants (5,39). Perhaps more importantly, belowground rhizomes of Drepanophycus formed complex networks as a result of belowground growth as well as sequential burial of aerial stems and rhizomes, which had the potential to bind sediments in a reinforced matrix, thereby increasing soil aggregate stability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Xue

Deng

Huang

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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The colonization of terrestrial environments by rooted vascular plants had far-reaching impacts on the Earth system. However, the belowground structures of early vascular plants are rarely documented, and thus the plant−soil interactions in early terrestrial ecosystems are poorly understood. Here we report the earliest rooted paleosols (fossil soils) in Asia from Early Devonian deposits of Yunnan, China. Plant traces are extensive within the soil and occur as complex network-like structures, which are interpreted as representing long-lived, belowground rhizomes of the basal lycopsid Drepanophycus. The rhizomes produced large clones and helped the plant survive frequent sediment burial in well-drained soils within a seasonal wet−dry climate zone. Rhizome networks contributed to the accumulation and pedogenesis of floodplain sediments and increased the soil stabilizing effects of early plants. Predating the appearance of trees with deep roots in the Middle Devonian, plant rhizomes have long functioned in the belowground soil ecosystem. This study presents strong, direct evidence for plant−soil interactions at an early stage of vascular plant radiation. Soil stabilization by complex rhizome systems was apparently widespread, and contributed to landscape modification at an earlier time than had been appreciated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Xue

Deng

Huang

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Root exudates affect the anti-erodibility of soils (AES) as significantly as the root density, litters, and vegetation cover (Fattet et al, 2011; Vannoppen et al, 2015). These exudates play several roles in directly and indirectly strengthening the AES: (1) The adhesive properties of the root exudates bind the soil particles together to enhance the formation of water-stable aggregates (Bronick & Lal, 2005; De Baets et al, 2008); (2) The release of root exudates is a continual source of organic matter, which will improve the soil structure with respect to the size, shape, and arrangement of solids and voids, continuity of pores and voids, and their capacity to retain and transmit fluids and organic and inorganic substances (Lal, 1991); (3) The aggregate formation and stability are indirectly influenced by microorganisms, which feed on the root exudates and produce hypha and polysaccharides to bind soil particles together (Andrade et al, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of root exudates of woody species on the soil anti-erodibility in the rhizosphere in a karst region, China

Wang

Fang

Chen

2017

PeerJ

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IntroductionRhizospheres, the most active interfaces between plants and soils, play a central role in the long-term maintenance of the biosphere. The anti-erodibility of soils (AES) regulated by the root exudates is crucial to the soil stability in the rhizospheres. However, scientists still debate (1) the key organic matter of the root exudates affecting the AES and (2) the interspecific variation of these root exudates.MethodsWe used an incubation of soils to test the effects of the root exudates from eight woody plant species on the change in soil aggregation and identified the organic matter in these root exudates with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and biochemical methods. Furthermore, the relationships between the organic matter in the exudates and the AES in the rhizospheres of 34 additional tree species were analyzed.ResultsThe water-stable aggregates of the soils incubated with the root exudates increased by 15%–50% on average compared with control samples. The interspecific differences were significant. The root exudates included hundreds of specific organic matter types; hydrocarbon, total sugar, total amino acids, and phenolic compounds were crucial to the AES. These organic matter types could explain approximately 20–75% of the variation in the total effect of the root exudates on the AES, which was quantified based on the aggregate status, degree of aggregation, dispersion ratio, and dispersion coefficient.DiscussionThe effects of the root exudates on the AES and the interspecific variation are as important as that of root density, litters, and vegetation covers. Many studies explored the effects of root density, litters, vegetation covers, and vegetation types on the AES, but little attention has been paid to the effects of the root exudates on the AES. Different plants secrete different relative contents of organic matter resulting in the variation of the effect of the root exudates on the AES. Our study quantified the causal relationships between the root exudates and the AES using modeling experiments in laboratory and field observations and indicated the interspecific variation of the AES and organic matter of the root exudates.ConclusionsMore organic compounds of the exudates related to the AES were recognized in this study. These results enhance the understanding of the soil stability at a slope and can be applied to ecosystem restoration.

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“…They are mainly formed by earthworm burrows, root channels, soil shrinkage cracking, chemical weathering, or freezing–thawing cycles and typically have large pore size (>75 μm) and continuity that facilitate the preferential transport of water and solutes (Beven and Germann, 1982; Sheng et al, 2014; Liu and Lennartz, 2015). Both living and decayed roots could serve as preferential flow paths, and root exudates could enhance soil aggregation and subsequently the formation of inter‐aggregate macropores (Fageria and Stone, 2006; Ghestem et al, 2011; Vannoppen et al, 2015). In addition, root channels could create well‐connected water conduits that are dependent on root system characteristics (Noguchi et al, 1997; Sidle et al, 2001; Newman et al, 2004).…”

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confidence: 99%

Roots‐Enhanced Preferential Flows in Deciduous and Coniferous Forest Soils Revealed by Dual‐Tracer Experiments

et al. 2019

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Macropores formed by roots are crucial channels for preferential flows in forest soils that are largely responsible for water percolation and solute leaching. Using dual‐tracer experiments (Brilliant Blue FCF and bromide [Br−]), this study investigated the preferential flows of water and solutes in a deciduous forest dominated by Quercus variabilis Bl. and a coniferous forest mainly planted with Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco. Dye‐stained patterns and concentrations of Brilliant Blue and Br− were obtained in vertical soil profiles (0–30 cm), whereas stained and unstained roots were collected and analyzed in horizontal soil profiles to a 30‐cm soil depth. Brilliant Blue and Br− were mainly accumulated in the 0‐ to 20‐cm soil depth, which had greater total root length density than the 20‐ to 30‐cm soil depth (P < 0.05). Only part of the roots facilitated the preferential flows, with finer roots (i.e., diameter <1 mm) contributing the most. More intriguingly, the coniferous forest soil had a greater degree of preferential flows and greater tracer concentrations at deeper soil depth than the deciduous forest soil, suggesting the importance of tree species and forest composition on water and solute transport in forest ecosystems. Core Ideas Roots enhanced preferential flows, with the primary contribution from finer roots. Brilliant Blue and Br− tracers mainly accumulated in soils with abundant roots. Preferential flows were greater in coniferous forest than deciduous forest.

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A review of the mechanical effects of plant roots on concentrated flow erosion rates

Cited by 242 publications

References 104 publications

Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Belowground rhizomes in paleosols: The hidden half of an Early Devonian vascular plant

Effects of root exudates of woody species on the soil anti-erodibility in the rhizosphere in a karst region, China

Roots‐Enhanced Preferential Flows in Deciduous and Coniferous Forest Soils Revealed by Dual‐Tracer Experiments

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