Plant and Soil

, Volume 42, Issue 2, pp 485–489 | Cite as

A simple technique to determine axial root growth force

  • G. C. Aggarwal
  • S. S. Prihar
Short Communication
Received:

Summary

The axial root-growth force developed by gram (Cicer arietinum) and maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings was measured with an A.C. operated direct reading top-pan balance. A radicle was passed through a hole in the bottom of a can and allowed to protrude about 1–2 mm and anchored on the inside of can with dental plaster of paris. Can was filled with soil, moistened and held firmly in a stand. The root tip was guided to a hole in the gypsum block placed on the pan. As the root grew vertically down, it pushed the balance; force was read as a function of time.

Maximum root growth force in gram averaged 14.2±3.6 g and the root growth pressure 4.5±3.8 bars. Similarly in maize, the root growth force was 28.6±7.7 g and the root growth pressure was 10.9±5.9 bars. This study experimentally verified the cyclic behaviour of the development of root growth force postulated by Abdalla et al.1. re]19740409

Keywords

Maize Plant Physiology Gypsum Root Growth Simple Technique 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Martinus Nijhoff Publishers 1975

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. C. Aggarwal
    • 1
  • S. S. Prihar
    • 1
  1. 1.Punjab Agricultural UniversityLudhiana

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