Objective This study aims to explore the root morphological characteristics, mechanical properties, and their relationships in herbaceous plants at different growth stages. Methods Root samples of Setaria viridis (fibrous root system) and Medicago sativa (tap root system) grown on purple soil slope land for 60, 90, 120, and 150 days were collected for root morphology scanning, single-root tensile tests, and whole-plant pull-out tests. Results 1) As growth time increased, the tensile and pull-out strength of the aforementioned herbaceous plants increased initially and then decreased. At the same growth time, the tensile and pull-out strengths of the fibrous root system were 1.21-2.89 times and 5.34-6.01 times greater than those of the tap root system, respectively. 2) The tensile strength showed a power function relationship with root diameter, and the pull-out strength showed a power function relationship with the diameter at the pull-out position. As growth time increased, the absolute values of the exponents in the function equation of the tensile strength showed an increasing trend. For the pull-out strength, the fibrous root system showed an increasing trend, while the tap root system showed a decreasing trend. 3) Random forest analysis showed that with the increase of growth time, the main influencing factors of tensile and pull-out strength of the fibrous root system changed from multiple root morphological indicators to a single indicator (root diameter), while the tap root system showed the opposite trend. Conclusion The research findings provide a theoretical basis for the efficient utilization and scientific evaluation of biological measures in soil and water loss control in purple soil regions.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |