Skip to main content
Log in

Applications and limitations of rhizotrons and minirhizotrons for root studies

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper discusses two glass-wall techniques-rhizotrons and minirhizotrons. Rhizotrons are covered underground walkways with clear windows on one or both sides. Their design varies somewhat with the type of research to be conducted in them. A minirhizotron consists of a clear tube inserted into the soil then some type of viewing arrangement is lowered into the tube. In both techniques, roots and their rhizosphere organisms can be observed at the soil-wall boundary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bates G H 1937 A device for the observation of root growth in the soil. Nature 139, 966–967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Box J E, Jr. Smucker A J M and Ritchie J T 1989 Minirhizotron installation techniques for investigating root responses to drought and oxygen stresses. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 53, 115–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyer D and Brown D A 1980 In situ root observation using fiber optic/video and fluorescence. In Agron. Abstracts p. 80, Madison, WI.

  • Fordham R 1972 Observations on the growth of roots and shoots of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) in Southern Malawi. J. Hortic. Sci. 47, 221–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman B M and Smart B E 1976 A root observation laboratory for studies with grapevines. Am. J. Enol. Viticulture. 27, 36–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glover J 1967 The simultaneous growth of sugarcane roots and tops in relation to soil and climate. Proc. South African Sugar Tech. Assn. 41, 143–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory P J 1979 A periscope method for observing root growth and distribution in the field. J. Expt. Bot. 30, 205–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilton R J, Bhar D S and Mason G F 1969 A rhizotron for in situ root growth studies. Can. J. Plant Sci. 49, 101–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huck M G and Taylor H M 1982 The rhizotron as a tool for root research. Adv. Agron. 35, 1–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxley P A and Turk A 1967 A new root observation laboratory for coffee. Kenya Coffee 156–159.

  • Rogers W S 1969 The East Malling root-observation laboratories. In Root Growth. Ed. W JWhittington. pp 361–376. Butterworth, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rush C M, Upchurch D R and Gerik T J 1984 In situ observation of Phymatotrichum omnivorum with a borescope minirhizotron system. Phytopathology 74, 104–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders J L and Brown D A 1978 A new fiber optic technique for measuring root growth of soybeans under field conditions. Agron. J. 70, 1073–1076.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soileau J M, Mays D A, Khasawneh F E and Kilmer V J 1974 The rhizotron-lysimeter research facility at TVA, Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Agron. J. 66, 828–832.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor H M 1969 The rhizotron at Auburn Alabama... a plant root observation laboratory. Auburn U. Agr. Expt. Sta. Circ. 197, 9 p.

  • Taylor H M 1987 Minirhizotron Observation Tubes: Methods and Applications for Measuring Rhizosphere Dynamics. ASA Special Publication 50, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor H M and Willatt S T 1981 Utilization of rhizotrons in root research. In The Soil/Root System in Relation to Brazilian Agriculture. Eds. R SRussell, K, Igue and Y RMehta. pp 319–337. Instituto Agronomica do Parana, Londrina, Brazil: IAPAR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch D R 1985 Relationship between observations in minirhizotrons and true root length density. Ph.D. Diss. Texas Tech University Press. Lubbock.

  • Upchurch D R, McMichael B L and Taylor H M 1988 Use of minirhizotrons to characterize root system orientation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 53, 319–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch D R and Richie J T 1983 Root observations using a video recording system in minirhizotrons. Agron. J. 75, 1009–1015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Upchurch D R and Ritchie J T 1984 Battery-operated color video camera for root observations in minirhizotrons. Agron. J. 76, 1015–1017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddington J 1971 Observations of plant roots in situ. Can. J. Bot. 49, 1850–1852.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Taylor, H.M., Upchurch, D.R. & McMichael, B.L. Applications and limitations of rhizotrons and minirhizotrons for root studies. Plant Soil 129, 29–35 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011688

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011688

Key words

Navigation