Responses of root growth to soil moisture in Caragana korshinskii and Hedysarum scoparium

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00321

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 252-261.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00321

Responses of root growth to soil moisture in Caragana korshinskii and Hedysarum scoparium

Xuanting Chen¹^,²(), Hai Zhou²(), Qiyue Yang², Heng Ren², Huli Gu², Mingyan Fan³

^1.College of Forestry，Gansu Agricultural University，Lanzhou 730070，China
^2.Linze Inland River Basin Research Station，Chinese Ecosystem Research Network （CERN） / State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^3.Qinghai University，Xining 810016，China

Received:2025-11-15 Revised:2025-12-23 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-03-09
Contact: Hai Zhou

Abstract

Abstract:

In desert ecosystems， spatiotemporal heterogeneity of soil moisture is a key limiting factor constraining plant growth and distribution. However， the mechanisms by which plant root system architecture responds to changes in water availability remain unclear， particularly lacking systematic research on how desert shrubs regulate root growth and distribution to adapt to soil moisture dynamics. This study was conducted in the oasis-desert ecotone north of Linze County， Gansu Province. Using a combination of minirhizotron and automated soil moisture monitoring systems， continuous observations were made on the vertical distribution and elongation rate of fine roots of Caragana korshinskii and Hedysarum scoparium during the growing seasons from 2022 to 2024. The results showed that：（1） The vertical distribution of fine roots for both species exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease， with the maximum proportions occurring at soil depths of 34-69 cm for H. scoparium and 52-86 cm for C. korshinskii. In a dry year with approximately 80 mm of rainfall， fine roots of H. scoparium tended to concentrate in shallower soil layers， with a higher proportion in shallow layers than in deep layers. In contrast， the proportion of fine roots of C. korshinskii remained stable across layers， with a consistently higher proportion in deep layers than in shallow layers. （2） The fine root elongation rates of both species initially increased and then decreased with soil depth. In most observation periods， the elongation rate of C. korshinskii was greater than that of H. scoparium. Over the three-year observation period， the fine root elongation rates of both species were significantly higher in normal-water years than in dry years. （3） Both species exhibited significant seasonal variation in fine root elongation rate， with peak values in all soil layers occurring in autumn. Soil water content explained 19%-37% of the variation in fine root elongation rate for H. scoparium and 41%-75% for C. korshinskii. The differences in root stratification between species provide a theoretical basis for plant species selection and arrangement in desert regions.

Key words: desert shrubs, fine root distribution, root elongation rate, soil water content

CLC Number:

Q945

Xuanting Chen, Hai Zhou, Qiyue Yang, Heng Ren, Huli Gu, Mingyan Fan. Responses of root growth to soil moisture in Caragana korshinskii and Hedysarum scoparium[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(1): 252-261.

Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Meteorological conditions at the study site from 2022 to 2024

Fig.2 Dynamics of soil water content in the experimental plot from 2022 to 2024

Fig.3 Temporal dynamics of the proportional fine‐root length in different soil layers for the two shrub species

Fig.4 Fine‐root elongation rate of the two species across soil depths

Fig.5 Liner relationships between fine-root elongation rates of two shrub species and soil water content at different soil depths

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Responses of root growth to soil moisture in Caragana korshinskii and Hedysarum scoparium

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