A groundbreaking study has revealed the critical role of plant roots in enhancing water movement through wetland soils, offering valuable insights for ecosystem restoration and water management in coastal and saline wetlands in Western Australia.
The collaborative research between The University of Western Australia and Beijing Forestry University uncovered the pivotal role of plant roots in the movement of water through the soils of the Yellow River Delta.
Published in the , the study used X-ray technology to examine tiny channels or ‘macropores’ in the soil, which are formed by plant roots and crab burrows.
The research found that soils with more macropores facilitated easier water movement, which is especially beneficial for wetland environments.
Lumeng Xie, principal author and a visiting PhD student with the Centre for Water and Spatial Science at UWA, said the vegetation-soil-hydrology process formed an interconnected whole in wetland ecosystems, where any single component could impact the health of the entire system.
