Fine root biomass estimates from minirhizotron imagery in a shrub ecosystem exposed to elevated CO2

Fine root biomass and C content are critical components in ecosystem C models, but they cannot be directly determined by minirhizotron techniques, and indirect methods involve estimating 3-dimensional values (biomass/ soil volume) from 2-dimensional measurements. To estimate biomass from minirhizotron data, a conversion factor for length to biomass must be developed, and assumptions regarding depth of view must be made. In a scrub-oak ecosystem in central Florida, USA, root length density (RLD) was monitored for 10 years in a CO₂ manipulation experiment using minirhizotron tubes. In the seventh year of the study, soil cores were removed from both ambient and elevated CO₂ chambers. Roots from those cores were used to determine specific root length values (m/g) that were applied to the long-term RLD data for an estimation of root biomass over 10 years of CO₂ manipulation. Root length and biomass estimated from minirhizotron data were comparable to determinations from soil cores, suggesting that the minirhizotron biomass model is valid. Biomass estimates from minirhizotrons indicate the <0.25 mm diameter roots accounted for nearly 95% of the total root length in 2002. The long-term trends for this smallest size class (<0.25 mm diameter) mirrored the RLD trends closely, particularly in relation to suspected root closure in this system. Elevated CO₂ did not significantly affect specific root length as determined by the soil cores. A significant treatment effect indicated smallest diameter fine roots (<0.25 mm) were greater under elevated CO₂ during the early years of the study and the largest (2–10 mm) had greater biomass under elevated CO₂ during the later years of the study. Overall, this method permits long-term analysis of the effects of elevated CO₂ on fine root biomass accumulation and provides essential information for carbon models.     

Comparison of tomato root distributions by minirhizotron and destructive sampling

Calibration of minirhizotron data against root length density (RLD) was carried out in a field trial where three drip irrigation depths: surface (R0) and subsurface, 0.20 m (RI) and 0.40 m depth (RII) and two processing tomato cultivars: `Brigade' (CI) and `H3044' (CII) were imposed. For each treatment three minirhizotron tubes were located at 10, 37.5 and 75 cm of the way from one plant row to the next. Roots intersecting the minirizotrons walls were expressed as root length intensity (L _a) and number of roots per unit of minirhizotron wall area (N _ra). Root length density (RLD) was calculated from core samples taken for each minirhizotron tube at two locations: near the top of the minirhizotron (BI) and 15 cm apart from it, facing the minirhizotron wall opposite the plant row (BII). Minirhizotron data were regressed against RLD obtained at BI and BII and with their respective means. The results show that for all the situations studied, better correlations were obtained when RLD was regressed with L _a than with N _ra. Also was evident that the relationship between L _a and RLD was strongly influenced by the location of soil coring. RLD was correlated with L _a trough linear and cubic equations, having the last ones higher determination coefficients. For instance at 10 cm from the plant row when values from the top layer (0–40 cm) were analysed separately, L _a was significantly regressed with RLD measured at BII and described by the equations: RLD = 0.5448 + 0.0071 L _a (R ² = 0.51) and RLD = 0.4823 + 0.0074L _a + 8×10^–5 L _a ² – 5×10^–7 L _a ³ (R ² = 0.61). Under the 40 cm depth the highest coefficients of determination for the linear and cubic equations were respectively 0.47 and 0.88, found when L _a was regressed with RLD measured at BI. For minirhizotrons located at 75 cm from the plant row and for location BI it was possible to analyse jointly data from all depths with coefficients of determination of 0.45 and 0.59 for the linear and cubic equations respectively.     

A comparison of minirhizotron,core and monolith methods for quantifying barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and fababean (Vicia faba L.) root distribution

Root research has been hampered by a lack of good methods and by the amount of time involved in making measurements. The use of the minirhizotron as a quantitative tool requires comparison with conventional destructive methods. This study was conducted in the greenhouse to compare the minirhizotron technique with core and monolith methods in quantifying barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and fababean (Vicia faba L.) root distribution. Plants were grown in boxes (80 cm long × 80 cm wide × 75 cm deep) in a hexagonal arrangement to minimize the effects of rooting anistrophy. Minirhizotron observations and destructive sampling to a depth of 70 cm using core and monolith methods were performed at the ripening growth stage. Total root length for the entire depth interval was generally higher in barley (159–309 m) than fababean (110–226 m). Significant correlation coefficients between monolith and core methods for root length density (RLD, cm cm^–3) was observed in both crops (p 0.01). A method and depth interaction showed no significant differences in fababean RLD distribution measured by core and monolith methods. However, the RLD was different for the uppermost 40 cm depth in barley. The relationship for RLD between minirhizotron and core methods was significant only in barley (r=0.77^*). For both crops, estimates of RLD in the top 10-cm layer by the minirhizotron technique were lower than those by core and monolith techniques. In contrast, estimates of RLD were higher in fababean at a depth >30 cm. Destructive sampling still remains the method to quantify root growth in the 0–10 cm soil layer. ei]B E Clothier     

Sorghum root length density and the potential for avoiding striga parasitism

Striga hermonthica is a serious root parasite of sorghum in the semiarid tropics. Successful parasitism is dependent on interactions of Striga seeds and host roots. Several sorghum cultivars have been found which resist parasitism. The basis of resistance is not well known. One possible method for reducing the chances of parasitism is by restricted host root development. This research was conducted to evaluate this hypothesis in sorghum known to possess resistance to parasitism by Striga.Root length density of 21-day-old pot-grown resistant cultivars, Framida, N-13, IS-9830, Tetron and P-967083, were compared to that of the susceptible check, Dabar, using the line intercept method of measuring root length. There was no significant difference between resistant cultivars and the susceptible cultivar Dabar. The RLD of resistant P-967083 however was significantly less than Framida, another resistant cultivar.The RLD of Dabar was compared to that of Framida and P-967083 in USA and Niger field trials. Root length density was determined on soil cores taken at flowering with a Giddings Soil Sampler. Each core was divided into 10-cm fractions for estimating RLD by the line intercept method. In the USA Dabar had significantly greater RLD than the two resistant cultivars in the upper 10-cm portion of the soil profile, but only significantly greater than P-967083 in the 10–20-cm portion. Significant differences in RLD between susceptible and resistant cultivars were not found at depths between 20–60 cm. In field trials in Niger, RLD of Dabar was significantly greater than either resistant cultivar in the (0 to 30 cm) portion of the soil core. These results suggest that part of the Striga resistance of P-967083 and perhaps Framida may be a result of avoiding interactions between parasitic seeds and host roots.     

A comparison of soil core sampling and minirhizotrons to quantify root development of field-grown potatoes

Root growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is sensitive to soil conditions. A reduced root system size can result in reduced uptake of water and/or nutrients, leading to impaired crop growth. To understand the mechanisms by which soil conditions affect crop growth, study of temporal and spatial development of roots is required.In field experiments, effects of soil temperature, soil compaction and potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida) on root growth of potato cultivars were studied using two methods: core sampling and vertically oriented minirhizotrons.Minirhizotrons showed relatively more roots in deeper soil layers than core sampling, probably because of preferential root growth along the tube. Spatial distribution of roots should therefore be analysed by core sampling.To eliminate differences in spatial distribution, total root systems as measured by both methods were compared. Nematodes, cultivars and time did not affect the relationship between both methods. Soil compaction, however, affected it because of a strong response of root length in bulk soil and small differences in root number against the minirhizotron, suggesting that soil coring has to be used to study effects of different bulk densities.With both methods, sequential measurements of roots give the net effect of root growth and decay. Data on root turnover can only be obtained with minirhizotrons by comparing video recordings of different dates. Other information obtained with minirhizotrons is the average orientation of roots. Moreover, the minirhizotron method has the advantage of demanding less labour.     

Advancing fine root research with minirhizotrons

Minirhizotrons provide a nondestructive, in situ method for directly viewing and studying fine roots. Although many insights into fine roots have been gained using minirhizotrons, a review of the literature indicates a wide variation in how minirhizotrons and minirhizotron data are used. Tube installation is critical, and steps must be taken to insure good soil/tube contact without compacting the soil. Ideally, soil adjacent to minirhizotrons will mimic bulk soil. Tube installation causes some degree of soil disturbance and has the potential to create artifacts in subsequent root data and analysis. We therefore recommend a waiting period between tube installation and image collection of 6-12 months to allow roots to recolonize the space around the tubes and to permit nutrients to return to pre-disturbance levels. To make repeated observations of individual roots for the purposes of quantifying their dynamic properties (e.g. root production, turnover or lifespan), tubes should be secured to prevent movement. The frequency of image collection depends upon the root parameters being measured or calculated and the time and resources available for collecting images and extracting data. However, long sampling intervals of 8 weeks or more can result in large underestimates of root dynamic properties because more fine roots will be born and die unobserved between sampling events. A sampling interval of 2 weeks or less reduces these underestimates to acceptable levels. While short sample intervals are desirable, they can lead to a potential trade-off between the number of minirhizotron tubes used and the number of frames analyzed per tube. Analyzing fewer frames per minirhizotron tube is one way to reduce costs with only minor effects on data variation. The quality of minirhizotron data should be assessed and reported; procedures for quantifying the quality of minirhizotron data are presented here. Root length is a more sensitive metric for dynamic root properties than the root number. To make minirhizotron data from separate experiments more easily comparable, idiosyncratic units should be avoided. Volumetric units compatible with aboveground plant measures make minirhizotron-based estimates of root standing crop, production and turnover more useful. Methods for calculating the volumetric root data are discussed and an example presented. Procedures for estimating fine root lifespan are discussed.     

Fine Root Distribution in Dehesas of Central-Western Spain

A Dehesa is a structurally complex agro-silvo-pastoral system where at least two strata of vegetation, trees and herbaceous plants coexist. We studied the root distribution of trees (Quercus ilex L.) and herbaceous plants, in order to evaluate tree and crops competition and complementarity in Dehesas of Central Western Spain. 72 soil cores of 10 cm diameter (one to two metre deep) were taken out around 13 trees. Seven trees were intercropped with Avena sativa L. and six trees were in a grazed pasture dominated by native grasses. Soil coring was performed at four distances from the tree trunks, from 2.5 (beneath canopy) till 20 m (out of the canopy). Root length density (RLD) of herbaceous plants and trees was measured using the soil core-break method. Additionally, we mapped tree roots in 51 profiles of 7 recently opened road cuts, located between 4 and 26 m of distance from the nearest tree. The depth of the road cuts varied between 2.5 and 5.5 m. Herbaceous plant roots were located mostly in the upper 30 cm, above a clayey, dense soil layer. RLD of herbaceous plants decreased exponentially with depth until 100 cm depth. Holm-oak showed a much lower RLD than herbs (on average, 2.4 versus 23.7 km m⁻³, respectively, in the first 10 cm of the soil depth). Tree RLD was surprisingly almost uniform with depth and distance to trees. We estimated a 5.2 m maximum depth and a 33 m maximum horizontal extension for tree roots. The huge surface of soil explored by tree roots (even 7 times the projection of the canopy) could allow trees to meet their water needs during the dry Mediterranean summers. The limited vertical overlap of the two root profiles suggests that competition for soil resources between trees and the herbaceous understorey in the Dehesa is probably not as strong as usually assumed.     

Field performance of Solanum sisymbriifolium, a trap crop for potato cyst nematodes. II. Root characteristics

Hatching of potato cyst nematodes is induced by root exudates of Solanaceae, such as Solanum sisymbriifolium, and is therefore related to root length distribution of this crop. A mathematical model was derived to relate the hatching potential to root length density (RLD). A series of field experiments was carried out to study actual root length distribution of S. sisymbriifolium in relation to shoot properties and to provide input into the model. Using a modified Poisson distribution formula for the three‐dimensional distribution of roots in a volume of soil, the relation between the zone of influence of hatching agents and the RLD could be derived. On this basis, the minimal RLD was estimated, which is needed to expose 75%, 90% or 95% of cysts to root exudates, as a function of the length of the zone of influence of hatching agents on cysts. The logarithm of the total root length showed a linear relation with the logarithms of above‐ground biomass and with leaf area index. Root diameter distribution was the same for all crops examined and independent of soil depth. Fine roots (<0.4 mm in diameter) constituted around 50% of total root length. Using a zone of influence of 1.00, 0.75 and 0.50 cm around the centre of each root, a minimal RLD for sufficient soil exploration (75%) was estimated. Depth at which that minimal RLD was exceeded was linearly related to total root length (km m^?2) and to above‐ground crop biomass, enabling estimations being made of the potential hatching efficacy as related to measurable properties of S. sisymbriifolium crops. The proposed approach to derive potential hatching effects from crop properties needs further validation; particularly, the distance of influence of root exudates is a critical factor.     

Calibration of minirhizotron readings against root length density data obtained from soil cores

The minirhiozotron (MR) root observation method was studied versus root length density (RLD) obtained from soil cores. Two plant species, acacia (Acacia saligna) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown in a 1-m³ container on Silt Loam (Typic Torrifluvent) and on fine dune sand (Typic Torripsamment), respectively. Roots of both plants were measured periodically by the two methods. The MR observation tubes (MROT) were inserted, either vertically or at 45°. The correlation between the number of roots obtained by the MR and RLD was significant for the entire profile. However, an appreciable error in root estimation by the MR root observation method at the upper 10-cm soil might occur. No significant difference was obtained from MROT oriented vertically or at 45°. The differences between the correlation coefficients of the two methods were not significant, for both plants and soils, indicating that this correlation expresses the geometry of the two measurement systems, not affected by plant or soil types. We concluded that the MR method may be used as an in situ, non-destructive root measuring method with reasonable confidence. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A comparison of minirhizotron techniques for estimating root length density in soils of different bulk densities

Flexible- and rigid-walled minirhizotron techniques were compared for estimating root length density of 14- to 28-day-old Pinto bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and spring whet (Triticum aestivum L.) plants in soil boxes under controlled environment conditions at three soil bulk densities (1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 g cm^–3). The flexible-tube system consisted of bicycle inner tubes inflated inside augered access holes and removed only when measurements were taken. Rigid tubes were constructed of extruded polybutyrate plastic. In both cases tubes were oriented horizontally. Despite similar root densities for wheat and beans based on measurements obtained from soil cores, root densities estimated from both types of minirhizotron were higher in bean than in wheat in uncompacted soil. Estimates of root density by the flexible tube minirhizotron were more closely correlated with soil core image analysis estimates than were those by the rigid minirhizotron system. At high soil bulk density, rigid tube measurements consistently overestimated actual rooting density of both wheat and bean. The relationship between estimated and actual rooting densities in the case of flexible tube measurements was not significantly influenced by soil bulk density. These findings were consistent with the theory that preferential root growth is induced by gaps at the soil-observation tube interface, inherent in the rigid tube technique, and was accentuated under conditions of high soil strength.     

毛白杨人工林吸收根判定阈值对其空间分布特征的影响

通过林木根系研究中不同吸收根的判定标准下根系空间分布特征的差异对比,阐明根系分级标准对吸收根空间分布格局的影响,提升根系研究精度,明确林木根系有效“觅食”区域。在7年生毛白杨林分中于5株样树周围挖取780个土柱,选取根系形态指标：根系平均直径(RD)、根系表面积密度(RAD)、根长密度(RLD)和根系体积密度(RVD)研究其垂向与径向的分布动态,并分析不同吸收根判定标准对毛白杨细根空间分布以及各形态指标的影响。结果表明：选取2 mm作为吸收根判定标准确实会导致运输根被误判为吸收根,但其空间分布特征仍能反映吸收根的真实空间分布格局。而且在该判定标准下,判定标准对于实际的细根形态和空间分布情况是否会产生的影响由于监测指标的不同以及研究位置的变化而不同。其中RAD、RLD和RVD的空间分布特征基本相同,但RVD的差值比例远高于其他指标,且深土层的差值比例普遍高于浅土层。因此,以2 mm为吸收根判定标准时,选取RLD和RAD更能准确反映吸收根的真实空间分布格局,且该标准更适用于在进行相对较浅的土层中开展研究,采用2 mm为阈值划分吸收根研究细根垂直分布特征时建议以各形态指标在各个土层所占比例来...     

Cultivar and planting date effects on soybean root growth

To avoid late summer drought, soybean [Gylcine max (L) Merrill] producers in many southern and border states of the USA modify their cropping systems. Options include use of unadapted cultivars and changing planting dates. Because root function is important to plant health and yield, this study was conducted to determine if planting date and soybean cultivar affect root growth and distribution. Seeds of one cultivar from each of four maturity groups (MG III, IV, V, and VI) were sown in mid-April, mid-May, and mid-June in 1992 and 1993 on a Tiptonville silt loam near Portageville, MO. Root observations were performed 30 and 60 days after emergence (DAE) using a minirhizotron system. Cultivars differed for root length density (RLD) only in the 15 to 28 cm depth in 1992 and in the 15 to 28 cm and 29 to 42 cm depths in 1993, but differences were not related to maturity classification of cultivar. Average RLD was 1.02 cm^–3 for MG III and IV cultivars and 1.21 cm cm^–3 for MG V and VI cultivars. Average RLD for the mid-June planting date was 1.65 cm cm^–3 but only 0.73 cm cm^–3 for the mid-April planting date. An increase in RLD between 30 and 60 DAE occurred at all soil depths. For both years, MG V and VI cultivars produced higher yields than the MG III cultivars. Earlier than normal planting dates inhibited early root growth, but did not reduce yield. Cultivars differed only slightly for the rooting characteristics measured in this study. These rooting characteristics may not be important criteria for cultivar selection.Abbreviations MG maturity group - VCR videocassette recorder - DAE days after emergence - RLD root length density - CRLD change in root length density Contribution from the Missouri Agric. Exp. Station Journal Series Number 12, 153Contribution from the Missouri Agric. Exp. Station Journal Series Number 12, 153     

Development and validation of a model to describe root length density of maize from root counts on soil profiles

Root length density (RLD) is an important determinant of crop water and nutrient acquisition, but is difficult to measure in the field. On a soil profile, in-situ counts of root impacts per unit surface on soil profiles (NI) can be used to calculate RLD if crop-specific parameters for preferential root orientation (anisotropy) are known. An improved method for field determinations of RLD was developed and validated for maize at sites in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Root anisotropy was measured with cubes of undisturbed soil with 0.1 m sidelength, based on NI observed on three planes oriented perpendicularly to each other. RLD was also measured for the enclosed volume. Repetition of such measurements enabled estimation of the robustness across sites of empirical and geometric models for the relationship between RLD and NI:RLD = NI CO, with CO being the coefficient of root orientation, theoretically equals 2 for an isotropic distribution. Root systems were found to be nearly isotropic, except near the root front (0.3 to 0.5 m), where roots had a preferentially orthotropic orientation. Measured RLD was generally about 50% larger than RLD calculated from observed NI and CO, indicating that at least one of the measurement techniques had a systematic error. The ratio between measured and calculated RLD (CE), which ranged from 0.8 to 2, increased with the age of the plants and decreased with soil depth. CE was therefore introduced as an additional coefficient, resulting in RLD = NI CO CE. The empirical value for CO CE was between 2 and 5. The empirical coefficients CO and CE were the same for the sites in Cote d'Ivoire (oxisol with an iron pan at 0.6 to 0.9 m) and Burkina Faso (alfisol with an iron pan at 0.4 to 0.8 m). The model was validated with independent data sets at both sites, and gave satisfactory predictions of RLD on the basis of NI obtained from single soil planes, which can be easily measured in the field.     

Spatial root distribution of apricot trees in different soil tillage practices

Root and soil water distribution was studied in a mature drip-irrigated apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Búlida) orchard with different soil tillage practices, in a loamy textured soil with a 7% slope, located in Murcia (SE Spain). Three treatments were applied between tree rows:control (no-tillage), whereby, following the common practice in the area, weeds were cut back to ground level by a blade attached to a tractor; perforated treatment, where the soil surface was mechanically perforated with an adapted-plough; and mini-catchment treatment, consisting of mini-catchments with low banks manually raised perpendicular to the line of emitters. Almost all of the apricot root system was located in the first 0.75 m of soil depth, with 91% in the first 0.50 m. More than 75% of the roots corresponded to thin roots, with a diameter less than 0.2 mm. Both tillage treatments decreased runoff compared with the control treatment, while the mini-catchment treatment showed the highest change in soil water content after rainfall events. The mini-catchment treatment was performed in an attempt to reduce the rainwater running down the slope, leaving the accumulated water near plant roots, an effect which was responsible for the higher root length density (RLD) values found in this treatment. In addition, roots were distributed over a wider area, providing higher RLD values up to 1 m from the emitter, meaning that a higher soil volume was explored. For these reasons, the mini-catchment treatment was seen to be the most beneficial soil tillage treatment for optimising water use in semiarid conditions.     

Estimating sugarcane root length density through root mapping and orientation modelling

Root length density (RLD) is a key factor in crop functioning. A field method was developed to quantify RLD of sugarcane from root intersection density (RID) taking root orientations into account. RIDs were observed on three perpendicular soil planes and RLD was measured for the enclosed volume. RID and RLD of thick and fine roots were measured separately. These measurements were replicated at different ages and sites to test models describing RLD according to RID. Fine roots were nearly isotropic and thick roots had a preferential orientation, i.e. horizontal near the surface and becoming progressively vertical in deeper horizons. Relationships in thick roots were modelled according to CO_t: RLD_t = RID_t. CO_t (CO_t: root orientation coefficient, ranged from 1.3 to 4.9 for thick roots). For fine roots (_f), CO_f?=?2. This theoretical model led to differences between measured and calculated RLD. The ratio between measured and calculated RLD_f (CE_f) increased from 1 to 3 with RID_f. CE_f was introduced as an additional coefficient in the model: RLD_f?=?2. NI_f. CE_f. Intermediate results were obtained for all (_a) roots: CO_a and CE_a were both dependent on RID_a, therefore: RLD_a = NI_a. CO_a. CE_a. The models were validated with independent datasets from Brazil and France. These allowed a more robust prediction of RLD than direct regressions between RID and RLD. They may estimate RLD from RID in soil profiles by root mapping while taking RLD spatial variability into account.     

Root dynamics in plant and ratoon crops of sugar cane

The root system of a sugar cane crop on an Ultisol in northeastern Brazil was examined throughout the plant and first ratoon crop cycles, using both coring and minirhizotron methods. Total root masses (living plus dead, 0.9–1.1 kg m^-2) and live root lengths (14.0–17.5 km m^-2) were greater during the ratoon cycle than at the end of the plant cane cycle (0.75 kg m^-2 and 13.8 km m^-2, respectively). Root die-back during the two weeks following ratoon harvest was estimated to be 0.15 kg m^-2, about 17% of the total root mass. Root die-back after the plant cane harvest was lower because fire was not used at this harvest and soil humidity was higher under the accumulated litter. A small amount of fine roots proliferated in the litter layer, amounting to 1% of the total mass and 3% of the total length. Root turnover could not be accurately assessed from minirhizotron observations due to variation in the relationship between coring data and the minirhizotron data with both time and soil depth.     

Long-term warming effects on root morphology, root mass distribution, and microbial activity in two dry tundra plant communities in northern Sweden

Effects of warming on root morphology, root mass distribution and microbial activity were studied in organic and mineral soil layers in two alpine ecosystems over>10 yr, using open-top chambers, in Swedish Lapland. Root mass was estimated using soil cores. Washed roots were scanned and sorted into four diameter classes, for which variables including root mass (g dry matter (g DM) m(-2)), root length density (RLD; cm cm(-3) soil), specific root length (SRL; m g DM(-1)), specific root area (SRA; m2 kg DM(-1)), and number of root tips m(-2) were determined. Nitrification (NEA) and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) in the top 10 cm of soil were measured. Soil warming shifted the rooting zone towards the upper soil organic layer in both plant communities. In the dry heath, warming increased SRL and SRA of the finest roots in both soil layers, whereas the dry meadow was unaffected. Neither NEA nor DEA exhibited differences attributable to warming. Tundra plants may respond to climate change by altering their root morphology and mass while microbial activity may be unaffected. This suggests that carbon may be incorporated in tundra soils partly as a result of increases in the mass of the finer roots if temperatures rise.     

Distribution,length and weight of roots in young plantations ofEucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden irrigated with recycled water

Summary The root systems ofEucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden, irrigated with recycled municipal effluent at two sites in north-western Victoria, Australia, were studied by excavation and coring. Trees at Robinvale were four years-old and were irrigated using micro-sprays that covered only 70% of the ground surface area, whereas at Mildura, effuent was uniformly was uniformly applied to six years-old trees by flood and sprinkler irrigation. At Mildura where roots were excavated from a 2.80×2.80×1.20 m block of soil, a total root length of 1193 m.m⁻² and a total root weight of 3.1 kg m⁻² were estimated in the top metre. For roots >1 mm diameter, 77% of intercepts were at 0–30 cm, whereas only 50% were in the 50–100 cm soil horizon. At both sites where roots in the top 30 cm were studied by coring, the vertical distributions of root intercepts, length and weight were similar. Root length was greatest in the 0–10 cm soil horizon at both sites, and intercepts of roots <1 mm diameter comprised 73% and 81% of all roots at Mildura and Robinvale respectively. Roots <1 mm diameter contributed 85% of total length at both sites, but only 19% and 21% of total weight at Mildura and Robinvale respectively. The horizontal distribution of roots differed at the two sites. With uniform application of effuent at Mildura, root intercepts and length were concentrated in the centre of the irrigation bay, but at Robinvale, the concentration occurred closer to the tree row due mainly to the different method of irrigation. Root weight at both sites was highest within 50 cm of the tree row. Root densities of 0.11 to 0.57 cm cm⁻³ were estimated in the two plantations; these were similar to root densities measured inPinus radiata D. Don plantations up to 46 months old, but were considerably lower than those estimated for pastures. The implications of the results for the management of irrigated plantations of eucalypts are discussed.     

Root dynamics in barley,lucerne and meadow fescue investigated with a mini-rhizotron technique

Root development, including depth distribution, was followed in pure barley stands (Hordeum distichum, L.) with or without nitrogen fertilization and in barley undersown with lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) or meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis, Huds.). The number of roots per 5 cm depth level down to 1 m was counted frequently during the growing season using mini-rhizotrons, i.e., transparent tubes inserted into the soil. Root biomass at different depths down to 1 m was estimated from soil cores taken one month before harvest. The results from the two methods were compared and root counts in the different treatments were compared with the above-ground growth and production. Nitrogen-fertilized barley in pure stand had the highest biomass both above and below ground. According to the mini-rhizotron observations this treatment also had a deeper and denser root system, until barley harvest, than the other treatments. After barley harvest, roots from the undersown lucerne continued to increase, whereas the number of roots in the undersown meadow fescue remained the same. The root system in barley/meadow fescue did not penetrate into the subsoil, where more than 60% of the number of roots in barley undersown with lucerne were found. In general, the mini-rhizotron results indicated a higher relative abundance of roots in the deeper layers than the root biomass estimated with the soil coring method.     

Measuring Fine Root Turnover in Forest Ecosystems

Development of direct and indirect methods for measuring root turnover and the status of knowledge on fine root turnover in forest ecosystems are discussed. While soil and ingrowth cores give estimates of standing root biomass and relative growth, respectively, minirhizotrons provide estimates of median root longevity (turnover time) i.e., the time by which 50% of the roots are dead. Advanced minirhizotron and carbon tracer studies combined with demographic statistical methods and new models hold the promise of improving our fundamental understanding of the factors controlling root turnover. Using minirhizotron data, fine root turnover (y⁻¹) can be estimated in two ways: as the ratio of annual root length production to average live root length observed and as the inverse of median root longevity. Fine root production and mortality can be estimated by combining data from minirhizotrons and soil cores, provided that these data are based on roots of the same diameter class (e.g., < 1 mm in diameter) and changes in the same time steps. Fluxes of carbon and nutrients via fine root mortality can then be estimated by multiplying the amount of carbon and nutrients in fine root biomass by fine root turnover. It is suggested that the minirhizotron method is suitable for estimating median fine root longevity. In comparison to the minirhizotron method, the radio carbon technique favor larger fine roots that are less dynamics. We need to reconcile and improve both methods to develop a more complete understanding of root turnover.