Abstract
Root density of irrigated, field-grown Russet Burbank potatoes grown on Plainfield loamy sand was determined periodically from soil core samples during the 1973 growing season. Total root length and weight also were measured.
Under these growing conditions, the roots essentially were restricted to the plow layer in this soil, decreasing rapidly below this depth. The root density in the plow layer generally ranged from 2 to 6 cm of roots per cm3 of soil, with lower values at greater depths. The root density exceeded 6 cm/cm3 in only a few cores, with a maximum of 11 cm/cm3 obtained on one core in the 10 to 20 cm depth adjacent to the plant. Roots with diameter less than 0.2 mm accounted for about two-thirds of the total root length. A decrease in total root length and dry-weight per plant occurred at the end of the growing season, coincident with the usual decrease in foliage dry weight. The root density beneath the furrow was not significantly different from that within the plant row during most of the growing season.
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Contribution of the Department of Soil Science. Research supported by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53706, and by USDA Hatch funds.
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Lesczynski, D.B., Tanner, C.B. Seasonal variation of root distribution of irrigated, field-grown Russet Burbank potato. American Potato Journal 53, 69–78 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02852656
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02852656