Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5): 1411-1419.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.05.23

• Plant and Plant Physiology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of the magnitude and influencing factors of the hydraulic redistribution of plant roots

YANG Guisen1,2(),HUANG Lei1,YANG Lizhen1,2,CHEN Jiajia1,2   

  1. 1. Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environmental Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2020-06-01 Revised:2020-07-20 Online:2021-09-15 Published:2021-09-24

Abstract:

The concept of hydraulic redistribution of plant roots (HR) refers to the passive transmission of water between different parts of the soil via plant roots, driven by the water potential gradient at the root-soil interface. It is a physiological regulation strategy employed by plant roots in order to adapt to the spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture. Not only can it optimize the use of water by plants, but it has also a certain impact on the ecosystem’s geochemical cycle. Therefore, the study of HR under water-limited environments is of great significance to understand in depth the ecological hydrological mechanism of plant survival in arid areas and its control strategies. Based on these observations, this paper reviews and analyzes the latest trends and progress in HR research at home and abroad, and compiles a more systematic review encompassing the developmental history of HR, its role in eco-hydrology, its magnitude, universality, and influencing factors. Using data mining to quantitatively describe HR on a global scale, it was found that HR mainly occurs in drier tree plant communities; in addition, HR accounts for 3%-79% of the transpiration process, with an average of 32%. Through the analysis of climatic factors, vegetation andsoil characteristics, and other aspects considered as HR influencing factors, it was found that the aridity index and soil texture have a significant impact on HR (P<0.05). Finally, combined with the new challenges faced by HR in the context of global change, the difficulties faced by current HR research and the frontier issues of science that should be focused on in the ecohydrological effect are proposed. Our study provides some reference for future HR research.

Key words: plant roots, hydraulic redistribution, influencing factors, eco-hydrological effect