<i>In situ</i>Measurement of Rooting Density by Micro-Rhizotron

Itoh, Sumio

doi:10.1080/00380768.1985.10557473

Cited by 27 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Root tracings were scanned, and root length in each diameter category was recorded for each measurement session using image analysis software (WinRHIZO Tron, Regent Instruments, Canada). Rhizotron root length was converted to root mass per unit ground area using the following different methods: Method 1 (Taylor et al 1970;Itoh 1985;Tingey et al 2000): The area of the two-dimensional plane of soil sampled by the rhizotrons is known (rhizotron width× length), but without some assumption of how far this plane extends into the bulk soil, root length observed at the rhizotron screen cannot be converted into root length per unit soil volume and ground area. However, direct measurements of ingrowth core root length per unit soil volume were made (see Supplementary measurements, above), and so the soil volume that was assumed to be 'sampled' by the rhizotron screen was altered until the mean value of rhizotron root length production per unit soil volume was equal to that derived from ingrowth cores.…”

Section: Rhizotron Methodology and Unit Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of methods for converting rhizotron root length measurements into estimates of root mass production per unit ground area

2007

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Section: Rhizotron Methodology and Unit Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of methods for converting rhizotron root length measurements into estimates of root mass production per unit ground area

2007

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“…While rhizotrons also provide data on root length (e.g. : Field studies: Itoh 1985;Sword et al 1996;West et al 2003;Davis et al 2004. Reviews: Vogt et al 1998Hendricks et al 2006), the unit of measurement (root length per unit area of observation screen) is not easily integrated into models of plant water and nutrient uptake.…”

Section: Root Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of water availability on root growth and morphology in an Amazon rainforest

et al. 2008

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This study examined how root growth and morphology were affected by variation in soil moisture at four Amazon rainforest sites with contrasting vegetation and soil types. Mean annual site root mass, length and surface area growth ranged between 3-7 t ha −1 , 2-4 km m −2 and 8-12 m 2 m −2 respectively. Mean site specific root length and surface area varied between 8-10 km kg −1 and 24-34 m 2 kg −1 . Growth of root mass, length and surface area was lower when soil water was depleted (P< 0.001) while specific root length and surface area showed the opposite pattern (P<0.001). These results indicate that changes in root length and surface area per unit mass, and pulses in root growth to exploit transient periods of high soil water availability may be important means for trees in this ecosystem to increase nutrient and water uptake under seasonal and longer-term drought conditions.

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“…A 3.0-mm image depth of field generated a 2002 ambient minirhizotron root-production estimate of 119.2 g m À2 , consistent with expectations. This depth of field estimate, which has been used in previous studies (Sanders and Brown 1978;Itoh 1985), was used in all of our calculations. We converted root length/minirhizotron to root length/m 2 using 3.0 mm as the image depth of field and by treating each image volume as indicative of rootlength density for the corresponding soil-surface area to the maximum depth of live root appearance during the course of the study (Johnson et al 2001).…”

Section: Scaling Of Minirhizotron Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Warming chambers stimulate early season growth of an arctic sedge: results of a minirhizotron field study

Sullivan

Welker

2004

Oecologia

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We examined the effects of passive open-top warming chambers on Eriophorum vaginatum production near Toolik Lake, Alaska, USA. During the 2002 growing season, chamber warming was consistent with the magnitude and seasonality observed in recent decades throughout northwestern North America. Leaf-growth rates were higher in late May and early June; maximum growth rates in each leaf cohort occurred earlier and peak biomass was observed 20 days earlier within the chambers. Consequently, plants within the chambers maintained more live leaf biomass during the period of highest photosynthetically active radiation. Annual leaf production within the chambers (21+/-2 mg tiller) was not significantly different than under ambient conditions (17+/-2 mg tiller) (P=0.2256) despite higher early-season growth rates. Root growth began earlier; growth rates were higher in late May and early June, and maximum growth rates occurred earlier within the chambers. Therefore, plants within the chambers maintained greater root biomass during what earlier studies have identified as a period of relatively high nutrient availability. Annual root production within the chambers (191+/-42 g m-2) was not significantly different than under ambient conditions (119+/-48 g m-2) (P=0.1979), although there was a trend toward higher production within the chambers. The tendency toward higher root production within the chambers is consistent with previous laboratory experiments and with the predictions of biomass allocation theory.

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In situMeasurement of Rooting Density by Micro-Rhizotron

Cited by 27 publications

References 7 publications

A comparison of methods for converting rhizotron root length measurements into estimates of root mass production per unit ground area

A comparison of methods for converting rhizotron root length measurements into estimates of root mass production per unit ground area

The effects of water availability on root growth and morphology in an Amazon rainforest

Warming chambers stimulate early season growth of an arctic sedge: results of a minirhizotron field study

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