Effects of wetting and drying alternation on the shear properties of root-loess composites

Context Plant roots can increase soil shear strength and reinforce soil. However, wetting and drying alternation (WD) could lead to soil structure destruction, soil erosion and slope instability. Aims This study tried to explore the effects of wetting and drying alternation on shear mechanical properties of loess reinforced with root system. Methods Direct shear testing was conducted on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) root system-loess composites with three soil bulk densities (1.2 g·cm−3, 1.3 g·cm−3 and 1.4 g·cm−3) under 0, 1, 2 and 3 cycles of wetting and drying alternation (WD0, WD1, WD2 and WD3). Key results The morphological integrity of the root-loess composites was obviously better than the non-rooted loess after WD. Under the three soil bulk densities, negative power-law relationships were observed between the shear strength, cohesion and internal friction angle and the cycles of WD. WD deteriorated the soil shear strength. The most obvious decrease in soil shear strength occurred under WD1, which was 13.00–22.86% for the non-rooted loess and 17.33–25.09% for the root-loess composites. The cohesion was decreased more than the internal friction angle by WD. Conclusions The most obvious damage to the soil was under WD1. The roots inhibited the deterioration effect of WD on the shear property of loess, and the inhibition by the roots decreased with the cycles of WD. Implications The results could provide new insights into the mechanical relationship between plant roots and loess under WD, and provide a scientific basis for the ecological construction in the loess areas.