Two grasses differ in their absorptive root physiological traits and rooting depth under drought in an alpine steppe.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Absorptive root traits play important roles in acquisition of water and nutrients from soil by plants. Despite numerous reports on the changes in species dominance under long-term drought in grassland communities, few studies have specifically investigated absorptive root traits of these dominant species in grasslands, especially in alpine grasslands.

Methods

Here, two grass species (Leymus secalinus and Stipa purpurea) differing in their responses to drought were selected from an alpine steppe. A series of absorptive root traits were examined under drought in a 3-year glasshouse experiment.

Key results

We found that drought had no effects on root morphological and architectural traits, whereas root physiological traits and rooting depth differed i

SUBMITTER: Zheng Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12683170 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature