Root and shoot growth of semi-dwarf and taller winter wheats

Investigations are reported of root and shoot growth in semi-dwarf and taller winter wheat varieties grown in contrasting soils over three years. Comparisons were made of the distribution with depth of roots, estimated by injecting rubidium-86 into stem bases and counting the content in soil cores. The relative ability to absorb phosphate from different zones was measured from the recovery in aerial parts of ³²P injected into the soil at different depths. The distribution of dry matter in roots and aerial parts, and total root length, was measured using soil cores and samples of aerial parts taken during the growth of the crop. Relative growth rates of the aerial parts followed a sigmoid curve, but those of the roots showed little change between germination and anthesis. There was little evidence of varietal differences in root growth, though there was some indication that at depth the roots of the semi-dwarf varieties were more extensive and absorbed more phosphate than those of the taller varieties.