Enhancement of plant growth and soil stabilization by seaweed polysaccharides in the red soil region of Southern China
- 1Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute of Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- 2State Grid Economic and Technological Research Institute Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
- 3Construction Company, State Grid Shandong Electric Power Company, Jinan, China
Abstract
Red soil is the second most extensively eroded soil type in China, predominantly distributed in the southern regions. Vegetative measures are widely recognized as an effective approach for controlling soil erosion in red soil areas, as they enhance slope stability and substantially reduce soil loss. However, during the early growth stages, the short and fine roots of plants are unable to extend beyond the shear failure surface, which constrains their capacity to stabilize the surface soil. To address this limitation, researchers have introduced seaweed polysaccharides as a soil ameliorant. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which seaweed polysaccharides influence plant growth, root-soil complex mechanics, and the erosion resistance of red soil remain poorly understood. Accordingly, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the enhancement of plant growth and soil stabilization by seaweed polysaccharides in red soil. The results indicate that (1) seaweed polysaccharides exhibited an optimal concentration range for improving red soil. At concentrations below 2%, seed germination, plant height, and stem growth were promoted, whereas concentrations exceeding 2% exerted inhibitory effects. (2) In terms of mechanical properties, seaweed polysaccharides significantly enhanced the shear strength of the soil. Compared with the control group, application of seaweed polysaccharides increased the cohesion and internal friction angle by 103.68% ~ 180.52% and 13.92% ~ 31.76%, respectively. When seaweed polysaccharides acted in conjunction with plant roots, the improvement was further amplified, with increases of 143.33% ~ 220.65% in cohesion and 14.83% ~ 39.45% in the internal friction angle. (3) Under simulated rainfall conditions, the sediment yield from the slope significantly decreased with increasing seaweed polysaccharide addition. The synergistic effect of seaweed polysaccharides and plant roots arises from the formation of a “seaweed polysaccharide-red soil-root” three-phase unit structure, in which the polysaccharides encapsulate and connect roots with soil particles, thereby enhancing the integrity and flexibility of the root-soil complex. These findings not only broaden the selection of soil reinforcement materials but also provide theoretical guidance for vegetation restoration and soil and water conservation in red soil regions.
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BibTeX
@article{xu2026enhancement,
title = {{Enhancement of plant growth and soil stabilization by seaweed polysaccharides in the red soil region of Southern China}},
author = {Wensheng Xu and Xiaofeng Chen and Jiaxiang Wang and Qian Hong and Dongliang Shao and Zhihua Zhang},
journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fevo.2026.1998787},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1998787},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Enhancement of plant growth and soil stabilization by seaweed polysaccharides in the red soil region of Southern China
AU - Wensheng Xu
AU - Xiaofeng Chen
AU - Jiaxiang Wang
AU - Qian Hong
AU - Dongliang Shao
AU - Zhihua Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution
DO - 10.3389/fevo.2026.1998787
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1998787
AB - Red soil is the second most extensively eroded soil type in China, predominantly distributed in the southern regions. Vegetative measures are widely recognized as an effective approach for controlling soil erosion in red soil areas, as they enhance slope stability and substantially reduce soil loss. However, during the early growth stages, the short and fine roots of plants are unable to extend beyond the shear failure surface, which constrains their capacity to stabilize the surface soil. To address this limitation, researchers have introduced seaweed polysaccharides as a soil ameliorant. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which seaweed polysaccharides influence plant growth, root-soil complex mechanics, and the erosion resistance of red soil remain poorly understood. Accordingly, an experimental study was conducted to investigate the enhancement of plant growth and soil stabilization by seaweed polysaccharides in red soil. The results indicate that (1) seaweed polysaccharides exhibited an optimal concentration range for improving red soil. At concentrations below 2%, seed germination, plant height, and stem growth were promoted, whereas concentrations exceeding 2% exerted inhibitory effects. (2) In terms of mechanical properties, seaweed polysaccharides significantly enhanced the shear strength of the soil. Compared with the control group, application of seaweed polysaccharides increased the cohesion and internal friction angle by 103.68% ~ 180.52% and 13.92% ~ 31.76%, respectively. When seaweed polysaccharides acted in conjunction with plant roots, the improvement was further amplified, with increases of 143.33% ~ 220.65% in cohesion and 14.83% ~ 39.45% in the internal friction angle. (3) Under simulated rainfall conditions, the sediment yield from the slope significantly decreased with increasing seaweed polysaccharide addition. The synergistic effect of seaweed polysaccharides and plant roots arises from the formation of a “seaweed polysaccharide-red soil-root” three-phase unit structure, in which the polysaccharides encapsulate and connect roots with soil particles, thereby enhancing the integrity and flexibility of the root-soil complex. These findings not only broaden the selection of soil reinforcement materials but also provide theoretical guidance for vegetation restoration and soil and water conservation in red soil regions.
SN - 2296-701X
ER -