Root channels to indicate the increase in soil matrix water infiltration capacity of arid reclaimed mine soils

Soil matrix flow plays a critical role in redistributing the precipitation input and enhancing water storage in arid areas. Root channels can result in macropore flow which strongly influences soil infiltration. Prior research has addressed the influence of vegetation on erosion and runoff, but the effects of root channels on infiltration capacity are less studied. In this study, we studied the root channels and soil water infiltration rates in ten artificial grasslands in an arid area. The results showed that the average root channel diameter (ARCD) of leguminous grasslands and of shrub grasslands were greater than that of gramineous grasslands (p < 0.05). Importantly, the ARCD and root channel area (RCA) were significantly and positively related to the average infiltration rate in stage I (AIRS 1) and the initial infiltration rate (IIR). The IIR and the AIRS I increased at rates of 31.13 and 14.60 mm h(-1), respectively, and at the same time there was an increase in ARCD. Overall, our results suggest that root channels played a significant role in the matrix infiltration capacity, resulting in a higher infiltration rate in leguminous grasslands and in mixed sown grasslands than in gramineous grasslands. We suggest that leguminous grasslands or the combination of leguminous and gramineous species in grassland should be given greater attention as suitable materials for mine-soil reclamation in arid regions. Our research improve the understanding of the influence of vegetation on soil hydrological processes and of the hydrology of reclaimed mine soils in arid regions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.