Skip to main content
Log in

Observations on root hair production by lucerne, maize and perennial ryegrass grown in a sandy loam

  • Short Communications
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Root hair production by young plants of lucerne, maize and perennial ryegrass grown in a sandy loam was assessed by examining roots growing at a soil-glass interface. Results are given for the percentage frequency distribution of root hair lengths and the numbers of root hairs produced per mm root. The mean lengths of root hairs observed on lucerne, maize and perennial ryegrass roots were 0.35, 0.90 and 1.12 mm respectively. Lucerne produced an average of 105 root hairs per mm of root, whereas maize produced 161 and perennial ryegrass produced 88. The total length of root hairs per mm length of root was estimated to be 37, 146 and 99 mm for lucerne, maize and perennial ryegrass resp.

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.

References

  1. Bhat, K. K. S.et al. 1976 Plant and Soil44, 63–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bole, J. B. 1973 Can. J. Soil. Sci.53, 169–175.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bouldin, D. R. 1961 Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.25, 476–480.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dittmer, H. J. 1937 Am. J. Bot.24, 417–420.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dittmer, H. J. 1938 Am. J. Bot.25, 654–657.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Drew, M. C. and Nye, P. H. 1969 Plant and Soil31, 407–424.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Jarvis, M. G. 1973 The Soils of the Wantage and Abingdon District. Soil Survey of Great Britain, Harpenden, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lewis, D. G. and Quirk, J. P. 1967 Plant and Soil26, 81–105.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Nye, P. H. and Tinker, P. B. 1977 Solute Movement in the Soil-Root System. Blackwell, London.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Scott, F. M. 1963 Nature London199, 1009–1010.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Scott, F. M.et al. 1963 Science140, 63–64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Letcombe Laboratory

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reid, J.B. Observations on root hair production by lucerne, maize and perennial ryegrass grown in a sandy loam. Plant Soil 62, 319–322 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374097

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374097

Key words

Navigation