Underground mining in arid and semi-arid regions of western China has resulted in the widespread formation of ground fissures, leading to soil structure degradation and water loss, which severely constrain vegetation restoration. Although extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have shown great potential in soil improvement, the effectiveness under strongly disturbed fissure conditions and the synergistic effects with plants remain poorly understood. This study investigated the individual and synergistic effects of EPS and plants on soil structure and water retention capacity in areas affected by ground fissures, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for ecological restoration in mining-impacted areas. A soil column simulation experiment was conducted under four treatments: untreated control (CK), EPS sprayed on the surface of fissure areas (EPS), plants grown near fissures (PL), and combined EPS application and plant treatment (PE). The stability of plant growth parameters, soil water content, soil aggregates, and pore structure were systematically analyzed. The results showed that EPS significantly promoted both aboveground and belowground biomass accumulation and root development. Compared with the PL treatment, the PE treatment increased root length, number of root tips, root projection area, root volume, and root surface area by 28.3 %, 114.3 %, 16.5 %, 126.9 %, and 22.9 %, respectively. The synergistic effects between EPS and roots significantly enhanced the shear strength and cohesion of the root-soil composite, increasing the shear strength by 18.0 % at 400 kPa confining pressure compared to the CK treatment. Both EPS and plants reduced soil water loss in fissure areas, with the PE treatment showing the highest water retention capacity. Furthermore, EPS and plants jointly improved soil structure by increasing the proportion of large macroaggregates (LMA) and enhancing pore connectivity. Relative to CK, the proportion of LMA increased by 26.5 %, 18.1 %, and 37.2 % under EPS, PL, and PE treatments, respectively. These findings demonstrate that EPS, by promoting plant growth and forming stable root-soil composite, substantially enhances soil water retention capacity and mechanical stability, providing a scientific basis for ecological restoration in fissure areas.