Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of a rapid method, using soil cores, for estimating the amount and distribution of crop roots in the field

  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A study was made of the relationship between the number of roots (Nr) observed on unit area of the freshly exposed, horizontal faces of soil cores, and the amounts of roots (per unit volume) present in the same cores. Soil cores, 7 cm diameter, were extracted to depths of 1 m from cereal crops in 1976 at three field sites located on clay soils. Sampling was either at the start of stem elongation, or at anthesis. Estimates of root length per unit soil volume (L) were derived from Nr by assuming random orientation of roots in the soil.

Values of L were found to be highly correlated with the measured lengths of both the main roots (root axes) and the total roots (axes and laterals) washed from the soil at a given growth stage, for each of the soils. On average, L was 3.3 times the length of root axes washed from the soil, and was 0.42 times the length of total roots, but there was appreciable variation between different growth stages and field sites. Possible factors giving rise to differences between L and the measured lengths of roots are discussed. Estimates of root length from observation of soil cores may nonetheless provide a suitable basis for rapidly comparing therelative distribution of roots down the soil profile under field conditions.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baldwin, J. P. and Tinker, P. B. 1972 A method of estimating the lengths and spatial patterns of two interpenetrating root systems. Plant and Soil37, 209–213.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baldwin, J. P., Tinker, P. B. and Marriott, F. H. C. 1971 The measurement of length and distribution of onion roots in the field and the laboratory. J. Appl. Ecol.8, 543–554.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Barnes, B. T. and Ellis, F. B. 1979 The effects of different methods of cultivation and direct drilling, and disposal of straw residues, on populations of earthworms. J. Soil. Sci.30, 669–679.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Böhm, W. 1976In situ estimation of root length at natural soil profiles. J. Agric. Sci. Camb.87, 365–368.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Böhm, W. 1979 Methods of Studying Root Systems. Ecological Studies33. Springer, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ellis, F. B. and Barnes, B. T. 1973 Estimation of the distribution of living roots of plants under field conditions. Plant and Soil39, 81–91.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ellis, F. B. and Barnes, B. T. 1980 Growth and development of root systems of winter cereals grown after different tillage methods including direct drilling. Plant and Soil54, 283–295.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ellis, F. B., Goss, M. J., Harris, W., Barnes, B. T., Howse, K. A., Douglas, J. T. and Duck, G. D. 1976 Effects of cultivation on soil physical characteristics which affect plant growth. Rep. Agric. Res. Council Letcombe Lab. for 1975, pp 26–28.

  9. Gregory, P. J., McGowan, M., Biscoe, P. V. and Hunter, B. 1978 Water relations of winter wheat. I. Growth of the root system. J. Agric. Sci. Camb.91, 91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kutschera, L. 1960 Wurzelatlas. DLG-Verlags, Frankfurt.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lang, A. R. G. and Melhuish, F. M. 1970 Lengths and diameters of plant roots in nonrandom populations by analysis of plane surfaces. Biometrics26, 421–431.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Russell, R. S. and Ellis, F. B. 1968 Estimation of the distribution of plant roots in soil. Nature London217, 582–583.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Schuurman, J. J. and Goedewaagen, M. A. J. 1971 Methods for the examination of root systems and roots. 2nd edition. Centre for Agricultural Publications and Documentation, Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Weaver, J. E. 1926 Root Development of Field Crops. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Weaver, J. E. and Clements, F. E. 1938 Plant Ecology, 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Welbank, P. J., Gibb, M. J., Taylor, P. J. and Williams, E. D. 1974 Root growth of cereal crops. Rep. Roth. Exp. Stn.1973, part 2, pp 26–66.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zadoks, J. C., Chang, T. T. and Konzak, C. F. 1974 A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Res.14, 415–421.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Letcombe Laboratory, Agricultural Research Council, OX12 9JT, Wantage, England

    M. C. Drew & L. R. Saker

Authors
  1. M. C. Drew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. R. Saker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Drew, M.C., Saker, L.R. Assessment of a rapid method, using soil cores, for estimating the amount and distribution of crop roots in the field. Plant Soil 55, 297–305 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02181809

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02181809

Key Words

Search

Navigation