A research data for Drought stress reduces the soil reinforcement potential of Cynodon dactylon roots in the water level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir area

To evaluate the influence of drought stress on the soil reinforcement potential of Cynodon dactylon roots, 3 drought intensities (normal irrigation, moderate drought and severe drought) were employed, root properties (lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and root water content) and tensile strength variations were determined under 6 durations (0, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 d), and the shear strength of root‒soil composites with 4 root densities (0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 g·100 cm-3) was evaluated.