Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (2): 560-571.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.02.23

• Plant and Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on physical and chemical properties and shear strength characteristics of root-soil composite system with different degradation degrees of alpine grassland in the source region of the Yellow River

YANG Fucheng1(),LIU Changyi1,HU Xiasong1(),LI Xilai2,FU Jiangtao3,LU Haijing2,SHEN Ziyan1,XU Tong1,YAN Cong1,HE Weipeng1   

  1. 1. Department of Geological Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, Qinghai, China
    2. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, Qinghai, China
    3. Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, Qinghai, China
  • Received:2021-08-25 Revised:2022-01-13 Online:2022-03-15 Published:2022-03-30
  • Contact: Xiasong HU E-mail:649626453@qq.com;huxiasong@tsinghua.org.cn

Abstract:

This study was to exhibit the effects of alpine grassland degradation on the physical and chemical properties of the soil and the shear strength of the root-soil composite system in the source region of the Yellow River. The alpine grassland in Henan County, Qinghai Province, was selected as the study site. The variation in characteristics of soil density, water content, soil nutrient element content, and shear strength of plant root-soil composite system at different stages of deterioration of grassland was obtained through laboratory experiments. The test results showed that under the same degradation status and sampling depth, the average soil density in the test area of Nanqi Village was 1.02-1.29 times that of Qilong Pasture. The soil water content showed a decreasing trend with the deterioration worsening. Soil pH value increased with increasing deterioration, and soil organic matter content, total nitrogen content, and total phosphorus content decreased. As a result, the shear strength of the root-soil composite system decreased with worsening damage. In Qilong Pasture and Nanqi Village, shear strength in the upper layer (0-10 cm) and lower layer (10-20 cm) were reduced by 72.05% and 48.77%, and 77.26% and 81.37%, respectively. The amount and dry weight of roots in the root-soil composite system decreased gradually with grassland degradation rising. In Qilong Pasture and Nanqi Village, the root amount in the upper and lower layers decreased by 79.28%, 75.93%, and 92.48%, 39.59%, respectively. Finally, according to the WWM model and Pearson correlation analysis, the reduction of roots and nutrient element content significantly reduced the shear strength of the root-soil composite system. Therefore, the study results provide practical guiding significance for the rational prevention and control of grassland degradation, soil erosion, and shallow landslides in the source region of the Yellow River.

Key words: the source region of the Yellow River, grassland degradation, physical and chemical properties, root-soil composite system, shear strength, correlation analysis