Influences of Vegetation Rehabilitation on Soil Infiltrability and Root Morphological Characteristics in Coastal Saline Soil

Linlin Chu, Si Yuan, Dan Chen (), Yaohu Kang, Hiba Shaghaleh, Mohamed A. El-Tayeb, Mohamed S. Sheteiwy and Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
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Linlin Chu: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Si Yuan: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Dan Chen: College of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yaohu Kang: Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Hiba Shaghaleh: College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Mohamed A. El-Tayeb: Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 12372, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed S. Sheteiwy: Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Yousef Alhaj Hamoud: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Soil’s hydraulic properties are an essential characteristic that influences the hydrologic cycle by influencing infiltration and runoff and the transport of soil water and salt in the process of vegetation rehabilitation in coastal saline soils. To date, few studies have specifically addressed the soil’s hydraulic properties and root–soil interactions of coastal saline soil under revegetation. This study aimed to identify the unique hydraulic characteristics of soil, the pore size distribution parameter, Gardner α, and the different contributions of soil’s physical properties and vegetation’s root morphological characteristics with regard to soil infiltration. For this purpose, disc infiltration experiments at different pressure heads were performed on three vegetation types, Salix matsudana (SM), Hibiscus syriacus (HC), and Sabina vulgaris (SV), after two years of vegetation rehabilitation. The results demonstrated that the initial and steady infiltration rate, Gardner α, and soil porosity fraction exhibit significant differences among the three plant species. A correlation analysis indicated that the soil water content, surface area, density, and dry weight of roots had inverse relationships with soil infiltration at heads of pressure of 0 cm and 9 cm. The regulation of soil infiltration was influenced by the root dry weight and root average diameter, which played crucial roles in determining the roots’ morphological properties and the formation of pathways and soil pores.

Keywords: disc infiltrometer; hydraulic conductivity; soil properties; saline soil; root morphological characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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