Naturally coloured roots as a tool for studying root interactions in mixed cropping

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the usage of species with coloured roots to study root growth patterns during intercropping. Red beet (Beta vulgaris L. cv. Detroit), having clear red roots, was used in a semi-field and field experiment to allow identification and quantification of roots of the individual species in the mixture. In the field experiment, red beet was strip intercropped with lucerne (Medicago sativa L. cv. Creno) and kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. Sabellica), respectively while the red beet-lucerne intercropping was conducted in large rhizoboxes where root growth distribution and <sup>15</sup>N isotope uptake was determined. The study confirmed that the direct visual measurement of root growth using species with coloured roots and indirect tracer uptake measurements contributed to the success of studying root growth dynamics in intercropping systems. Red beet root intensity was not considerably affected by the strip intercropping when the crops were established at the same time, but when established between existing lucerne strips, a reduction in roots at the border row was shown. Lucerne and kale were both observed to be able to exploit the deep soil layers beneath the red beet border row.

Falcataria moluccana (Miq.) root distribution seedlings in response to nitrogen concentrations and tillage

“…root camera) and root biomass were used in the present study. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods have been explained well in previous studies (Maeght et al, 2013;Hassan et al, 2021c). Direct visual determination is difficult and uncertain because both live and dead roots Fig.…”

Foliar Application of Strontium for the Identification of Roots from Specific Wheat Plants

“…An in-depth understanding of the interaction between plant roots is conducive to not only a better understanding of the competitive strategies of different species in natural ecological communities, enabling improved ecological protection and ecological restoration, but also a better understanding of the mechanism of the efficient utilization of crop water and nutrients in farmland ecosystems. It is the theoretical basis for the establishment of the efficient management of farmland nutrients and environmentally friendly agricultural cultivation technology systems [4][5][6]. In order to study root interactions between plants, it is necessary to effectively distinguish the specific sources of entangled roots.…”