Abstract: In order to construct high accuracy plant roots model, and improve the simulation precision of land surface process model and the ability of agricultural meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation, the development of the statistical model, visualization model and mechanism model for roots were summarized. The root models about root length, root density, root biomass, root surface area were analyzed. The development trend of root model was prospected. This paper believed that the root models were mainly based on the statistical fitting relationship between root index and non-environmental factors (e.g. time, soil depth) because the root observation was very difficult. With the construction of modern underground root observation system, developing the quantitative relationship models of root growth and multi environmental factors became an important direction of root simulation in the future. The mechanism of effects of environmental factors on root physiology and ecology was the key to the development of root model.