Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-507-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-507-2025
Original research article
 | 
11 Jul 2025
Original research article |  | 11 Jul 2025

Rubber plant root properties induce contrasting soil aggregate stability through cohesive force and reduced land degradation risk in southern China

Waqar Ali, Amani Milinga, Tao Luo, Mohammad Nauman Khan, Asad Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Qiu Yang, Huai Yang, Wenxing Long, and Wenjie Liu

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Cited articles

Ali, W., Yang, M., Long, Q., Hussain, S., Chen, J., Clay, D., and He, Y.: Different fall/winter cover crop root patterns induce contrasting red soil (Ultisols) mechanical resistance through aggregate properties, Plant Soil, 477, 461–474, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05430-4, 2022. 
Ali, W., Hussain, S., Chen, J., Hu, F., Liu, J., He, Y., and Yang, M.: Cover crop root-derived organic carbon influences aggregate stability through soil internal forces in a clayey red soil, Geoderma, 429, 116271, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116271, 2023. 
Barto, E. K., Alt, F., Oelmann, Y., Wilcke, W., and Rillig, M. C.: Contributions of biotic and abiotic factors to soil aggregation across a land use gradient, Soil Biol. Biochem., 42, 2316–2324, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.008, 2010. 
Chen, C., Liu, W., Jiang, X., and Wu, J.: Effects of rubber-based agroforestry systems on soil aggregation and associated soil organic carbon: Implications for land use, Geoderma, 299, 13–24, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.03.021, 2017. 
Chen, J., Wu, Z., Zhao, T., Yang, H., Long, Q., and He, Y.: Rotation crop root performance and its effect on soil hydraulic properties in a clayey Utisol, Soil Till. Res., 213, 105136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105136, 2021. 
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Short summary
This study explores how rubber plant root traits and soil organic matter improve soil stability via cohesive forces. Older plantations (>11 years) showed higher root density, soil organic matter, and optimal cellulose-to-lignin ratios, enhancing soil cohesion and aggregate stability. These findings highlight the role of mature rubber plants in reducing soil degradation and offer insights for sustainable land management and agricultural productivity in tropical regions like the island of Hainan.
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