Root distribution and water uptake patterns of corn under surface and subsurface drip irrigation

Information on root distribution and uptake patterns is useful to better understand crop responses to irrigation and fertigation, especially with the limited wetted soil volumes which develop under drip irrigation. Plant water uptake patterns play an important role in the success of drip irrigation system design and management. Here the root systems of corn were characterized by their length density (RLD) and root water uptake (RWU). Comparisons were made between the spatial patterns of corn RWU and RLD under surface and subsurface drip irrigation in a silt loam soil, considering a drip line on a crop row and between crop rows. Water uptake distribution was measured with an array of TDR probes at high spatial and temporal resolution. Root length density was measured by sampling soil cores on a grid centered on crop row. Roots were separated and an estimation of root geometrical attributes was made using two different image analysis programs. Comparisons of these programs yielded nearly identical estimates of RLD. The spatial patterns of RWU and RLD distributions, respectively normalized to the total uptake and root length, were generally similar only for drip line on a crop row, but with some local variations between the two measures. Both RLD and RWU were adequately fitted with parametric models based on semi-lognormal and normal Gaussian bivariate density functions (Coelho and Or, 1996; Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 60, 1039–1049).     

Integrated effect of irrigation frequency and phosphorus level on lettuce: P uptake, root growth and yield

The objective of the present research was to assess the effects of fertigation frequency on plant phosphorus and water uptake. Special attention was given to root measurement in order to elucidate the mechanism that relates the fertigation frequency to P uptake and plant growth. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Iceberg) grown in pots filled with quartz sand was chosen as a test plant. The experiment comprised six treatments, with two concentrations of P in irrigation water (0.2 mM and 1.0 mM), and three daily fertigation frequencies (one, four and ten). It was found that high irrigation frequency induced a significant increase in plant-P concentration at low solution-P concentration, whereas at high P concentration the effect of irrigation frequency was insignificant. Increasing the irrigation frequency significantly enhanced the transpiration flux so that the transpiration flux of plants under low irrigation-P level at 10 daily irrigation events was similar to that of plants under high solution-P. The increases with irrigation frequency of P concentration in lettuce organs and of P influx to the roots, at the low P level, were attributed to the elimination of the depletion zone at the root-soil interface by the supply of fresh nutrient solution, and the enhancement of P uptake. The higher P uptake resulted from higher convective flux of dissolved P from the substrate solution to the root surface owing to the higher average moisture content associated with frequent irrigation. The only significant correlation revealed by multiple stepwise regressions relating nutrient concentrations in the plant to yield was that between plant-P concentration and the yield. On the basis of a quadratic regression, 97% of the dry weight variation could be explained by differences in P uptake, indicating that the main effect of fertigation frequency was related to an improvement in P mobilization and uptake. Thus, frequent irrigations may compensate for P shortage.     

Root zone solute dynamics under drip irrigation: A review

Infiltration and subsequent distribution of water and solutes under cropped conditions is strongly dependent on the irrigation method, soil type, crop root distribution, and uptake patterns and rates of water and solutes. This review discusses aspects of soil water and solute dynamics as affected by the irrigation and fertigation methods, in the presence of active plant uptake of water and solutes. Fertigation with poor quality water can lead to accumulation of salts in the root zone to toxic levels, potentially causing deterioration of soil hydraulic and physical properties. The high frequency of application under drip irrigation enables maintenance of salts at tolerable levels within the rooting zone. Plant roots play a major role in soil water and solute dynamics by modifying the water and solute uptake patterns in the rooting zone. Modeling of root uptake of water and solutes is commonly based on incorporating spatial root distribution and root length or density. Other models attempt to construct root architecture. Corn uptake rate and pattern of nitrate nitrogen was determined from field studies of nitrate dynamics under drip irrigation using TDR monitoring. The determined nitrate nitrogen uptake rates are within literature values for corn. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Scaling of root length density of maize in the field profile

Root length density is an important parameter in crop growth simulation and in evaluating consequences of root pattern on crop water and nutrient uptake. In this study, a scaling model was presented for estimating the profile distribution of root length density of maize (Zea mays L.). The model inputs are root length data of a reference profile and bulk densities of soil layers, as well as root length data in the first soil layer of a field profile to be investigated. Using the root length data of 10 soil profiles investigated over 2 years, the model was examined. The results show that the proposed scaling approach is effective in estimating the root length density of each layer of soil in the field profile. The relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of the developed scaling model was 25.28%, while that of the traditional exponential model was 39.53%. The scaling approach would facilitate determination of heterogeneous distributions of root length densities in the field.     

Nutrient uptake relationship to root characteristics of rice

Data on root parameters and distribution are important for an improved understanding of the factors influencing nutrient uptake by a crop. Therefore, a study was conducted on a Crowley silt loam at the Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart, Arkansas to measure root growth and N, P and K uptake by three rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars at active tillering (36 days after emergence (DAE)), maximum tillering (41 DAE), 1.25 cm internode elongation (55 DAE), booting (77 DAE) and heading (88 DAE). Soil-root core samples were taken to a depth of 40 cm after plant samples were removed, sectioned into 5 cm intervals, roots were washed from soil and root lengths, dry weights and radii were measured. Root parameters were significantly affected by the soil depth × growth stage interaction. In addition, only root radius was affected by cultivar. At the 0- to 5-cm soil depth, root length density ranged from 38 to 93 cm cm^-3 throughout the growing season and decreased with depth to about 2 cm cm^-3 in the 35- to 40-cm depth increment. The increase in root length measured with each succeeding growth stage in each soil horizon also resulted in increased root surface area, hence providing more exposed area for nutrient uptake. About 90% of the total root length was found in the 0- to 20-cm soil depth throughout the season. Average root radius measured in the 0- to 5-cm and 35- to 40-cm depth increments ranged from 0.012 to 0.013 cm and 0.004 to 0.005 cm, respectively throughout the season. Total nutrient uptake by rice differed among cultivars only during vegetative growth. Differences in total nutrient uptake among the cultivars in the field appear to be related to absorption kinetics of the cultivars measured in a growth chamber study. Published with permission of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Soil redox-pH stability of arsenic species and its influence on arsenic uptake by rice

Although the auger method has been reported to be simple and superior to other methods of determination of roots, a standard procedure of determining roots with the same is lacking. In a bid to standardize the auger method for studying wheat root distribution; we sampled roots with 5, 7.5 and 10 cm ID augers on the row and midway between rows down to 180 cm. The suitability of a sampling scheme was adjudged from bias between observed and actual root length densities (RLD). The actual density in a layer was obtained by integrating the equation fitted to the average of root density data horizontally between 0 and 11 cm, because for 22 cm apart rows of wheat the representative half of the unit soil strip was 11 cm from the row; and assumed actual RLD was the average of horizontal distribution of RLD in a particular layer. Single site sampling on the row or between rows gave the maximum bias. Average of two sites viz. on the row and midway between rows with 10 cm ID auger and 7.5 cm ID auger or at three sites with 5 cm ID auger (additional site midway between the earlier two) gave the best estimates in that order.     

Effect of Optimal Daily Fertigation on Migration of Water and Salt in Soil,Root Growth and Fruit Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Solar-Greenhouse

Inappropriate and excessive irrigation and fertilization have led to the predominant decline of crop yields, and water and fertilizer use efficiency in intensive vegetable production systems in China. For many vegetables, fertigation can be applied daily according to the actual water and nutrient requirement of crops. A greenhouse study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of daily fertigation on migration of water and salt in soil, and root growth and fruit yield of cucumber. The treatments included conventional interval fertigation, optimal interval fertigation and optimal daily fertigation. Generally, although soil under the treatment optimal interval fertigation received much lower fertilizers than soil under conventional interval fertigation, the treatment optimal interval fertigation did not statistically decrease the economic yield and fruit nutrition quality of cucumber when compare to conventional interval fertigation. In addition, the treatment optimal interval fertigation effectively avoided inorganic nitrogen accumulation in soil and significantly (P<0.05) increased the partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen by 88% and 209% in the early-spring and autumn-winter seasons, respectively, when compared to conventional interval fertigation. Although soils under the treatments optimal interval fertigation and optimal daily fertigation received the same amount of fertilizers, the treatment optimal daily fertigation maintained the relatively stable water, electrical conductivity and mineral nitrogen levels in surface soils, promoted fine root (<1.5 mm diameter) growth of cucumber, and eventually increased cucumber economic yield by 6.2% and 8.3% and partial factor productivity of applied nitrogen by 55% and 75% in the early-spring and autumn-winter seasons, respectively, when compared to the treatment optimal interval fertigation. These results suggested that optimal daily fertigation is a beneficial practice for improving crop yield and the water and fertilizers use efficiency in solar greenhouse.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of root distribution in developing stands of four woody crop species grown with drip irrigation and fertilization

In forest trees, roots mediate such significant carbon fluxes as primary production and soil CO₂ efflux. Despite the central role of roots in these critical processes, information on root distribution during stand establishment is limited, yet must be described to accurately predict how various forest types, which are growing with a range of resource limitations, might respond to environmental change. This study reports root length density and biomass development in young stands of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoidies Bartr.) and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) that have narrow, high resource site requirements, and compares them with sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), which have more robust site requirements. Fine roots (<1 mm), medium roots (1 to 5 mm) and coarse roots (>5 mm) were sampled to determine spatial distribution in response to fertilizer and irrigation treatments delivered through drip irrigation tubes. Root length density and biomass were predominately controlled by stand development, depth and proximity to drip tubes. After accounting for this spatial and temporal variation, there was a significant increase in RLD with fertilization and irrigation for all genotypes. The response to fertilization was greater than that of irrigation. Both fine and coarse roots responded positively to resources delivered through the drip tube, indicating a whole-root-system response to resource enrichment and not just a feeder root response. The plastic response to drip tube water and nutrient enrichment demonstrate the capability of root systems to respond to supply heterogeneity by increasing acquisition surface. Fine-root biomass, root density and specific root length were greater for broadleaved species than pine. Roots of all genotypes explored the rooting volume within 2 years, but this occurred faster and to higher root length densities in broadleaved species, indicating they had greater initial opportunity for resource acquisition than pine. Sweetgum’s root characteristics and its response to resource availability were similar to the other broadleaved species, despite its functional resemblance to pine regarding robust site requirements. It was concluded that genotypes, irrigation and fertilization significantly influenced tree root system development, which varied spatially in response to resource-supply heterogeneity created by drip tubes. Knowledge of spatial and temporal patterns of root distribution in these stands will be used to interpret nutrient acquisition and soil respiration measurements. The US Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright covering this paper. Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the USDA Forest Service.     

Fibrous carrot root responses to irrigation and compaction of sandy and organic soils

Field experiments were performed in Southern Finland on fine sand and organic soil in 1990 and 1991 to study carrot roots. Fall ploughed land was loosened by rotary harrowing to a depth of 20 cm or compacted under moist conditions to a depth of 25–30 cm by three passes of adjacent wheel tracks with a tractor weighing 3 Mg, in April were contiguously applied across the plot before seed bed preparation. Sprinkler irrigation (30 mm) was applied to fine sand when moisture in the 0–15 cm range of soil depth was 50% of plant-available water capacity. For root sampling, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders (30 × 60 cm) were installed in the rows of experimental plots after sowing, and removed at harvest. Six carrot plants were grown in each of in these soil colums in situ in the field.Fine root length and width were quantified by image analysis. Root length density (RLD) per plant was 0.2–1.0 cm cm^-3 in the 0–30 cm range. The fibrous root system of one carrot had total root lengths of 130–150 m in loose fine sand and 180–200 m in compacted fine sand. More roots were observed in irrigated than non-irrigated soils. In the 0–50 cm range of organic soil, 230–250 m of root length were removed from loosened organic soils and 240–300 m from compacted soils. Specific root surface area (surface area divided by dry root weight) of a carrot fibrous root system averaged 1500–2000 cm² g^-1. Root length to weight ratios of 250–350 m g^-1 effectively compare with the ratios of other species.Fibrous root growth was stimulated by soil compaction or irrigation to a depth of 30 cm, in both the fine sand and organic soils, suggesting better soil water supply in compacted than in loosened soils. Soil compaction increased root diameters more in fine sand than it did in organic soil. Most of the root length in loosened soils (fine sand 90%, organic soil 80%) and compacted soils (fine sand 80%, organic soil 75%) was composed of roots with diameters of approximately 0.15 mm. With respect to dry weight, length, surface area and volume of the fibrous root system, all the measurements gave significant resposes to irrigation and soil compaction. Total root volumes in the 0–50 cm of soil were 4.3 cm³ and 9.8 cm³ in loosened fine sand and organic soils, respectively, and 6.7 cm³ and 13.4 cm³ in compacted sand and organic soils, respectively. In fine sand, irrigation increased the volume from 4.8 to 6.3 cm³.     

Root length dynamics in agroforestry with Gliricidia sepium as compared to sole cropping in the semi-deciduous rainforest zone of West Africa

Tree root systems may improve soil fertility through carbon inputs, uptake of leachable nutrients and maintenance of soil biomass, but can at the same time reduce crop yields by competition for water and nutrients. Quantitative information about the positive and negative effects of tree roots and their changes in space and time are necessary for the optimization of agroforestry associations. An alley cropping experiment was layed out as a randomized complete block design on a Plinthic Lixisol/Ferralic Cambisol with Gliricidia sepium hedgerows at 5 m distance, including a sole cropping control. The development of root systems was monitored by sequential soil coring (eight samplings) during one year, with maize and groundnut as crops. Additional information is presented from a single sampling for rice during the foregoing year. Pronounced fluctuations of live root length density indicated an important variability in the nutrient and water uptake capacity of the vegetation. At low total root length density, the hedgerows affected the root development in the agroforestry plots directly by the presence of their root systems. At high root length density, they affected root development mainly by improving crop root growth and influencing the composition of the spontaneous vegetation. The root length density of the hedgerows was too low to compete with the crops for soil resources. The hedgerows tended to increase root length densities in the subsoil when few roots were present, thus possibly reducing the risk of nutrient leaching. However, the length density of the perennial root systems decreased during the cropping season, presumably as an effect of repeated pruning, and attained minimum values almost at the same time as the crops. Trees with denser root systems which are less frequently pruned may be more efficient in achieving closer nutrient cycles, though at the cost of higher root competition with crops.     

膜下滴灌土壤湿润范围对棉花根层土壤水热环境和根系耗水的影响

为探明膜下滴灌土壤湿润范围对棉花根区水热环境及棉花根系耗水的影响,设置滴头流量1.69（W₁₆₉）、3.46（W₃₄₆）和6.33 L·h^-1（W₆₃₃）3个水平,观测分析了棉花生育期土壤基质势、土壤温度及棉花根系生长和耗水分布状况.结果表明： 膜下滴灌土壤温度主要受光照影响;不同类型土壤湿润区之间的土壤温度差异不明显,不同土壤湿润区的膜下土壤温度对棉花根系耗水也没有明显影响.但是随着土壤湿润区由窄深型向宽浅型过渡,棉花根区土壤基质吸力在水平方向上分布更趋于均匀,而棉花根系耗水强度主要受土壤基质吸力分布的影响.宽浅型土壤湿润区（W₆₃₃）的棉花膜下内、边行根系耗水强度差值平均为0.67 mm·d^-1,有利于内、边行棉株生长整齐;窄深型土壤湿润区（W₁₆₉）的内、边行根系耗水强度差值平均为0.88 mm·d^-1,不利于内、边行棉株均匀生长.可见,膜下滴灌技术设计中,土壤湿润区不应小于覆膜宽度,应使膜下土壤整体湿润.     

根区交替控制灌溉条件下玉米根系吸水规律

为了阐明根区交替控制灌溉(CRDAI)条件下玉米根系吸水规律,通过田间试验,在沟灌垄植模式下采用根区交替控制灌溉研究玉米根区不同点位(沟位、坡位和垄位)的根长密度(RLD)及根系吸水动态。研究表明,根区土壤水分的干湿交替引起玉米RLD的空间动态变化,在垄位两侧不对称分布,并存在层间差异;土壤水分和RLD是根区交替控制灌溉下根系吸水速率的主要限制因素。在同一土层,根系吸水贡献率以垄位最大,沟位最低;玉米营养生长阶段,10—30 cm土层的根系吸水速率最大;玉米生殖生长阶段,20—70 cm为根系吸水速率最大的土层,根系吸水贡献率为43.21%—55.48%。研究阐明了交替控制灌溉下根系吸水与土壤水分、RLD间相互作用的动态规律,对控制灌溉下水分调控机理研究具有理论意义。     

Fine root distribution of trees and understory in mature stands of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) on dry and humid sites

Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) is the main tree cropping species in the Landes of Gascogne forest range in south western France. Soils are nutrient poor, sandy podzosols and site fertility is determined essentially by organic matter content and depth of water table, which is known to limit root growth. We hypothesised, with an ultimate goal of constructing a nutrient uptake model applicable to this region, that the organic top horizons together with the depth of the water table should be the most important parameters related to fine root distribution and presence of associated mycorrhiza. To test this hypothesis, we compared two adult Pinus pinaster stands, contrasting in depth of water table and soil fertility and evaluated fine roots (diameter ≤2 mm) of understory species and fine roots and ectomycorrhizal morphotypes of Pinus pinaster down to 1.2 m, using a soil corer approach. Total fine root biomass of Pinus pinaster was not significantly different between both sites (3.6 and 4.5 t ha⁻¹ for the humid, respectively, dry site), but root distribution was significantly shallower and root diameter increased more with depth at the humid site, presumably due to more adverse soil conditions as related to the presence of a hardpan, higher amount of aluminium oxides and / or anoxia. Fine roots of Pinus pinaster represented only about 30% of total fine root biomass and 15% of total fine root length, suggesting that the understory species cannot be ignored with regards to competition for mineral nutrients and water. A comparison of the ectomycorrhizal morphotypes showed that the humid site could be characterised by a very large proportion of contact exploration types, thought to be more relevant in accessing organic nutrient sources, whereas the dry site had a significantly higher proportion of both long-distance and short-distance exploration types, the latter of which was thought to be more resistant to short-term drought periods. These results partly confirm our hypothesis on root distribution as related to the presence of soil mineral nutrients (i.e. in organic matter), point out the potential role of understory plant species and ectomycorrhizal symbiosis and are a valuable step in building a site-specific nutrient uptake model.     

Competition in tree row agroforestry systems. 1. Distribution and dynamics of fine root length and biomass

Complementarity in the distribution of tree and crop root systems is important to minimise competition for resources whilst maximising resource use in agroforestry systems. A field study was conducted on a kaolinitic Oxisol in the sub-humid highlands of western Kenya to compare the distribution and dynamics of root length and biomass of a 3-year-old Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. (grevillea) tree row and a 3-year-old Senna spectabilis DC. (senna) hedgerow grown with Zea mays L. (maize). Tree roots were sampled to a 300 cm depth and 525 cm distance from the tree rows, both before and after maize cropping. Maize roots were sampled at two distances from the tree rows (75–150 cm and 450–525 cm) to a maximum depth of 180 cm, at three developmental stages. The mean root length density (L_rv) of the trees in the upper 15 cm was 0.55 cm cm⁻³ for grevillea and 1.44 cm cm⁻³ for senna, at the start of the cropping season. The L_rv of senna decreased at every depth during the cropping season, whereas the L_rv of grevillea only decreased in the crop rooting zone. The fine root length of the trees decreased by about 35% for grevillea and 65% for senna, because of maize competition, manual weeding, seasonal senescence or pruning regime (senna). At anthesis, the L_rv of maize in the upper 15 cm was between 0.8 and 1.5 cm cm⁻³. Maize root length decreased with greater proximity to the tree rows, potentially reducing its ability to compete for soil resources. However, the specific root length (m g⁻¹) of maize was about twice that of the trees, so may have had a competitive uptake advantage even when tree root length was greater. Differences in maize fine root length and biomass suggest that competition for soil resources and hence fine root length may have been more important for maize grown with senna than grevillea. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation in field conditions of a three-dimensional architectural model of the maize root system: Comparison of simulated and observed horizontal root maps

Most existing water and nutrient uptake models are based on the assumption that roots are evenly distributed in the soil volume. This assumption is not realistic for field conditions, and significantly alters water or nutrient uptake calculations. Therefore, development of models of root system growth that account for the spatial distribution of roots is necessary.The objective of this work was to test a three dimensional architectural model of the maize root system by comparing simulated horizontal root maps with observed root maps obtained from the field. The model was built using the current knowledge on maize root system morphogenesis and parameters obtained under field conditions. Simulated root maps (0.45 × 0.75 m) of horizontal cross sections at 3 depths and 3 dates were obtained by using the model for a plant population. Actual root maps were obtained in a deep, barrier-free clay-loamy soil by digging pits, preparing selected horizontal planes and recording root contacts on plastic sheets.Results showed that both the number of cross-sections of axile roots, and their spatial distribution characterized with the R-index value of Clark and Evans (1954), were correctly accounted for by the model at all dates and depths. The number of cross-sections of laterals was also correctly predicted. However, laterals were more clustered around axile roots on simulated root maps than on observed root maps. Although slight discrepancies appeared between simulated and observed root maps in this respect, it was concluded that the model correctly accounted for the general colonization pattern of the soil volume by roots under a maize crop.     

不同耕作方式对陇中旱农区春小麦和豌豆根系空间分布及产量的影响

依托陇中旱农区长期的保护性耕作定位试验,对不同耕作方式下春小麦和豌豆根系空间分布特征及作物产量进行研究,以探索耕作措施影响作物产量的机制.结果表明: 随着生育期的推进,春小麦和豌豆的总根长、根表面积呈先增后减的趋势,开花期达到最大;春小麦根系苗期以0～10 cm最多,花期、成熟期10～30 cm最多;而豌豆根系苗期和成熟期均以0～10 cm最多,花期10～30 cm最多.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜增加了根长和根表面积,春小麦和豌豆各生育时期的根长较传统耕作增加了35.9%～92.6%,根表面积增加了43.2%～162.4%.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜优化了春小麦和豌豆根系分布,与传统耕作相比,增加了春小麦和豌豆苗期0～10 cm土层根长和根表面积分布比例,花期和成熟期深层次根系分布也显著增加,免耕秸秆覆盖在开花期30～80 cm土层根长和根表面积的分布比例分别比传统耕作提高了3.3%和9.7%.春小麦各生育期的总根长、根表面积与产量呈显著正相关,豌豆各生育期的总根长与豌豆产量呈极显著正相关.免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜较传统耕作春小麦和豌豆产量增加23.4%～38.7%,水分利用效率提高了13.7%～28.5%.在陇中旱农区,免耕秸秆覆盖和免耕覆膜可以增加作物根长和根表面积,优化了根系在土壤中的空间分布,增强作物根层吸收能力,从而提高作物产量和水分高效利用.     

Growth of a root system described as diffusion. II. Numerical model and application

In simulation models for water movement and nutrient transport, uptake of water and nutrients by roots forms an essential part. As roots are spatially distributed, prediction of root growth and root distribution is crucial for modelling water and nutrient uptake. In a preceding paper, De Willigen et al. (2002; Plant and Soil 240, 225–234) presented an analytical solution for describing root length density distribution as a diffusion-type process. In the current paper, we present a numerical model that does the same, but which is more flexible with respect to where root input can occur. We show that the diffusion-type root growth model can describe well observed rooting patterns. We used rooting patterns for different types of crops: maize, gladiolus, eastern white cedar, and tomato. For maize, we used data for two different types of fertiliser application: broadcast and row application. In case of row application, roots extend more vertically than horizontally with respect to the broadcast application situation. This is reflected in a larger ratio of diffusion coefficients in vertical versus horizontal direction. For tomato, we considered tomatoes grown on an artificial rooting medium, i.e. rockwool. We have shown that, in principle, the model can be extended by including reduction functions on the diffusion coefficient in order to account for environmental conditions.     

A procedure for determining average root length density in row crops by single-site augering

A simplified procedure has been formulated and tested for determining average root length density (RLD) by auger sampling at a single site in wheat, corn and mustard. It involves the determination of horizontal root distribution in the representative half of the unit soil strip (distance from base of plant to mid-point in the rows) by excavating small monolith segments in the top soil layer. Average RLD is computed by dividing the integral of polynomial function fitted to the horizontal root distribution (in the unit soil strip) with its length. The average RLD, thus, obtained is interpolated on the curve between root length density and horizontal distance from the plant base (d) in the representative half of the unit soil strip. Root length density determined by centering 5 cm diameter auger at the interpolated d gave minimum deviation from the average RLD of that layer compared to the other possible single site sampling schemes with same-sized auger. These results indicate that for row crops, the best centre for single-site augering is about one-third of distance from the plant base to mid-way between the two rows.     

Plant morphology and root hydraulics are altered by nutrient deficiency in Pistacia lentiscus (L.)

The plants in arid and semiarid areas are often limited by water and nutrients. Morpho-functional adjustments to improve nutrient capture may have important implications on plant water balance, and on plant capacity to withstand drought. Several studies have shown that N and P deficiencies may decrease plant hydraulic conductance. Surprisingly, studies on the implications of nutrient limitations on water use in xerophytes are scarce. We have evaluated the effects of strong reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus availability on morphological traits and hydraulic conductance in seedlings of a common Mediterranean shrub, Pistacia lentiscus L.. Nitrogen deficiency resulted in a decrease in aboveground biomass accumulation, but it did not affect belowground biomass accumulation or root morphology. Phosphorus-deficient plants showed a decrease in leaf area, but no changes in aboveground biomass. Root length, root surface area, and specific root length were higher in phosphorus-deficient plants than in control plants. Nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency reduced both root hydraulic conductance and root hydraulic conductance scaled by total root surface area. On the other hand, nutrient limitations did not significantly affect root conductance per unit of foliar surface area. Thus, adaptation to low nutrient availability did not affect seedling capacity for maintaining water supply to leaves. The implications for drought resistance and survival during seedling establishment in semi-arid environments are discussed.     

Denitrification in the top soil of managed grasslands in The Netherlands in relation to soil type and fertilizer level

The objective of this investigation was to determine how free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) of cotton (Gossypium hirsulam L.) affects root distribution in a natural soil environment. For two years cotton was grown on a Trix clay loam under two atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (370 and 550 μmol mol⁻¹) and two water treatments [wet, 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) replaced and dry, 75% (1990) and 67% (1991) of ET replaced] at Maricopa, AZ. At early vegetative and mid-reproductive growth, 90 cm soil cores were taken at 0,0.25, and 0.5 m perpendicular to row center; root variables were ascertained at three 30 cm depth increments. The effect of water stress alone or its interaction with CO₂ on measured variables during both samplings were rare and showed no consistent pattern. There was a significant CO₂ × position interaction for root length density at the vegetative stage (both years) and reproductive stage (1990 only); the positive effects of extra CO₂ were more evident at interrow positions (0.25 and 0.5 m). A CO₂ × depth × position interaction at the vegetative phase (1990) indicated that FACE increased root dry weight densities for the top soil depth increment at all positions and at the middle increment at the 0.5 m position. Similar trends were seen at the reproductive sampling for this measure as well as for root length density at both sample dates in 1990. In 1991, a CO₂ × depth interaction was noted at both periods; CO₂ enhancement of root densities (i.e., both length and dry weight) were observed within the upper and middle depths. Although variable in response, increases for root lineal density under high CO₂ were also seen. In general, results also revealed that the ambient CO₂ treatment had a higher proportion of its root system growing closer to the row center, both on a root length and dry wight basis. On the other hand, the FACE treatment had proportionately more of its roots allocated away from row center (root length basis only). Results from this field experiment clearly suggest that increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration will alter root distribution patterns in cotton.