Background and aims To optimise soil conditions for agriculture and engineering, we must better understand how root growth and decomposition affect soil hydraulic properties. This paper investigates soil hydraulic properties down soil columns containing grass, forb, and legume species before and after root decomposition. Methods Contrasting species (2 grasses, 1 forb, 1 legume) were grown within repacked soil columns. These so...

Purpose Quantifying the stability of individual plants or their contribution to soil reinforcement against erosion or landslides requires an understanding of the tensile properties of their roots. This work developed a new analytical model to understand the tensile stress–strain behaviour of a single root axis, which is the first to incorporating root anatomical features, in order to reduce the existing uncertainty in predicti...

Aims Test the effects of root drying on biomechanical properties of fibrous roots. Methods Tensile strength and Young’s modulus of Festuca arundinacea roots were tested after full hydration and during progressive drying. Root diameter, water loss, and water content were measured for all treatments. Results Hydrated roots showed weak relations between biomechanical properties and diameter. After only 30 min air-drying, both ten...