Arid Zone Research ›› 2023, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 235-246.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2023.02.08

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Study on tensile mechanical properties of alfalfa roots and the influencing factors

MAO Zhengjun1,2,3(),GENG Mimi1   

  1. 1. College of Geology and Environment, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
    2. Geological Research Institute for Coal Green Mining, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
    3. Shaanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Geological Support for Coal Green Exploitation, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2022-04-16 Revised:2022-10-14 Online:2023-02-15 Published:2023-03-08

Abstract:

We analyzed the tensile properties and its influencing factors of a single root of the pioneer herbaceous plant alfalfa (Medicago sativa Linn.). Alfalfa roots with different root diameters and lengths were selected for indoor single-root tensile tests under different loading rates. The tensile force and tensile strength of a single root were estimated quantitatively for different root diameters, root lengths, and loading rates. The results showed loading rate had a significant effect on the tensile force and tensile strength of alfalfa roots (P<0.05). For a root diameter less than 3 mm, the tensile force and tensile strength reached their maximum at the loading rate of 500 mm·min-1. However, when the root diameter was relatively thick, the tensile force and tensile strength of alfalfa roots reached their maximum at the loading rate of 100 mm·min-1. No significant difference between root length, tensile force, and tensile strength of alfalfa root was observed (P<0.05). The root diameter of alfalfa showed a significant influence on root tensile force and tensile strength (P<0.001). The root diameter was positively correlated with root tensile strength by a power function (R2=0.380, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with root tensile strength by a power function (R2=0.363, P<0.001). The regression model about the impact of various factors on the alfalfa root tensile force and tensile strength showed that root diameter was the main factor affecting the tensile properties.

Key words: alfalfa, tensile mechanical property, loading rate, root length, root diameter