Effects of root morphological traits on soil detachment for ten herbaceous species in the Loess Plateau

Plant root systems can greatly reduce soil loss, and their effects on soil erosion differ across species due to their varied root traits. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of root morphology traits of herbaceous plants on the soil detachment process. Ten herbaceous plants (dominant species) in the Loess Plateau were selected, and 300 undisturbed soil samples (including living roots from the selected herbages) were scoured with flowing water to measure their soil detachment capacities under six levels of shear stress (4.98 to 16.37 Pa). Then, the root traits of each soil sample were measured, and the rill erodibility and critical shear stress were estimated based on the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. The results showed that root morphology traits varied greatly among the ten selected herbages. Accordingly, resulting variations in soil detachment capacity (0.030 to 3.297 kg m−2 s−1), rill erodibility (0.004 to 0.447 s m−1), and critical shear stress (4.73 to 1.13 Pa) were also observed. Plants with fibrous roots were more effective than those with tap roots in reducing soil detachment. Their mean soil detachment capacity and rill erodibility were 93.2% and 93.4% lower, respectively, and their mean critical shear stress was 1.15 times greater than that of the herbaceous plants with tap root systems. Of all the root traits, root surface area density (RSAD) was the primary root trait affecting the soil detachment, and it estimated the soil detachment capacity well (R2 = 0.91, normalized squared error (NSE) = 0.82). Additionally, an equation with few factors (soil aggregate and RSAD) was suggested to simulate the soil detachment capacity when the plant root parameters and soil properties were limited. [Display omitted] •The effects of plant roots on Dc was detected by overland flow under six shear stress.•Differences of root morphology traits among herbaceous species resulting great variations in Dc, Kr and τc.•Plant roots decreased Dc and enhance the soil resistance to flowing water.•RSAD would well present the effects of plant roots on soil detachment.