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Aims <p>Plant root architecture critically mediates soil stabilisation in alpine grasslands, yet its functional linkages to erosion resistance remain poorly quantified. Understanding how contrasting root strategies balance biomechanical constraints and ecosystem resilience is essential for guiding restoration in vulnerable regions like the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.</p> Methods <p>We integrated root functional traits (diameter, volume, tensile strength) with soil mechanical properties across eight dominant alpine herb species representing three architectural types: rhizomatic, densely tufted, and sparsely tufted. Soil shear strength and erosion resistance were analyzed using root geometric index (RGI), root mass density (RMD), tensile strength (RTS), and soil erosion resistance index (SERI). Structural equation modelling identified trait interaction pathways.</p> Results <p>The results demonstrated that rhizomatic species, with horizontally expansive networks, maximise soil stabilisation through high RGI and tip proliferation, achieving the highest SERI. Densely tufted species prioritise topsoil binding via dense fibrous roots, yet exhibit trade-offs between RMD and RTS, resulting in intermediate SERI. Sparsely tufted species, despite high RWC and drought adaptation, show minimal SERI due to sparse root allocation. A universal inverse power-law relationship between RTS and root diameter aligns with global biomechanical constraints, while RWC-driven reductions in cell wall rigidity further modulate this linkage. Structural equation modelling reveals architectural-specific pathways: RGI dominates in rhizomatic types, RTS in densely tufted, and RWC in sparsely tufted systems. Nonlinear RMD-SERI relationships highlight architectural optimisation as a key stabilisation driver.</p> Conclusions <p>Our findings propose that root architectural diversity-spatial integration in rhizomatic types, density optimisation in densely tufted, and resource partitioning in sparsely tufted-collectively enhance ecosystem resilience. These trait-based insights advocate for mixed-species restoration strategies to synergise soil stabilisation and hydrological regulation. Future work must unravel temporal trait dynamics and root-microbiota interactions to refine alpine grassland management under climate change.</p>

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Root architectural diversity underpins soil stabilisation in alpine grasslands: Trait-mediated mechanisms across rhizomatic, densely tufted, and sparsely tufted herbs

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月13日

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  • Junmei Gao,
  • Lingshan Ni,
  • Kexin Li,
  • Ni Zhu,
  • Lin Liu,
  • Suyuan Jia,
  • Laiting Zhang,
  • Shixiong Li,
  • Bing Liu,
  • Xiaoli Wang,
  • Yu Liu

摘要

Aims

Plant root architecture critically mediates soil stabilisation in alpine grasslands, yet its functional linkages to erosion resistance remain poorly quantified. Understanding how contrasting root strategies balance biomechanical constraints and ecosystem resilience is essential for guiding restoration in vulnerable regions like the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Methods

We integrated root functional traits (diameter, volume, tensile strength) with soil mechanical properties across eight dominant alpine herb species representing three architectural types: rhizomatic, densely tufted, and sparsely tufted. Soil shear strength and erosion resistance were analyzed using root geometric index (RGI), root mass density (RMD), tensile strength (RTS), and soil erosion resistance index (SERI). Structural equation modelling identified trait interaction pathways.

Results

The results demonstrated that rhizomatic species, with horizontally expansive networks, maximise soil stabilisation through high RGI and tip proliferation, achieving the highest SERI. Densely tufted species prioritise topsoil binding via dense fibrous roots, yet exhibit trade-offs between RMD and RTS, resulting in intermediate SERI. Sparsely tufted species, despite high RWC and drought adaptation, show minimal SERI due to sparse root allocation. A universal inverse power-law relationship between RTS and root diameter aligns with global biomechanical constraints, while RWC-driven reductions in cell wall rigidity further modulate this linkage. Structural equation modelling reveals architectural-specific pathways: RGI dominates in rhizomatic types, RTS in densely tufted, and RWC in sparsely tufted systems. Nonlinear RMD-SERI relationships highlight architectural optimisation as a key stabilisation driver.

Conclusions

Our findings propose that root architectural diversity-spatial integration in rhizomatic types, density optimisation in densely tufted, and resource partitioning in sparsely tufted-collectively enhance ecosystem resilience. These trait-based insights advocate for mixed-species restoration strategies to synergise soil stabilisation and hydrological regulation. Future work must unravel temporal trait dynamics and root-microbiota interactions to refine alpine grassland management under climate change.