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.
References
Bhat, K. K. S.et al. 1976 Plant and Soil44, 63–72.
Bole, J. B. 1973 Can. J. Soil. Sci.53, 169–175.
Bouldin, D. R. 1961 Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc.25, 476–480.
Dittmer, H. J. 1937 Am. J. Bot.24, 417–420.
Dittmer, H. J. 1938 Am. J. Bot.25, 654–657.
Drew, M. C. and Nye, P. H. 1969 Plant and Soil31, 407–424.
Jarvis, M. G. 1973 The Soils of the Wantage and Abingdon District. Soil Survey of Great Britain, Harpenden, 1973.
Lewis, D. G. and Quirk, J. P. 1967 Plant and Soil26, 81–105.
Nye, P. H. and Tinker, P. B. 1977 Solute Movement in the Soil-Root System. Blackwell, London.
Scott, F. M. 1963 Nature London199, 1009–1010.
Scott, F. M.et al. 1963 Science140, 63–64.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Letcombe Laboratory
Rights 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
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374097