Root Methods

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-04188-8

Cited by 151 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 454 publications

(726 reference statements)

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“…This was accomplished by viewing undigitized video tapes and counting intersects with gridlines drawn on an overhead transparency and placed over the video monitor (Tennant, 1975). Average RLD during the first year (April 1996–April 1997) was calculated for each minirhizotron observation frame using the Tennant (1975) method and expressed as cm of root length per cm 2 of minirhizotron observation area (Smit et al, 2000). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm effects on native grassland root system dynamics under natural and increased rainfall

Arnone

Zaller

2014

Front. Plant Sci.

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Earthworms (EWs) can modify soil structure and nutrient availability, and hence alter conditions for plant growth through their burrowing and casting activities. However, few studies have specifically quantified EW effects by experimentally manipulating earthworm densities (EWDs). In an earlier field study in native grassland ecosystems exposed to ambient and experimentally elevated rainfall (+280 mm year-1, projected under some climate change scenarios), we found no effects of EWDs (37, 114, 169 EW m-2) and corresponding EW activity on aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), even though soil nutrient availability likely increased with increasing EWDs. The lack of effects of EWDs on ANPP suggested that EWs may have adversely affected root systems in that study in some way. The objective of the present study was to quantify responses of root length density (RLD), using data collected from the same grassland plots during the earlier study. RLDs were highest in plots with low EWDs and decreased in plots with higher EWDs. Elevated rainfall primarily increased RLDs in the low EWD treatment (by almost +40%). Reductions in RLDs resulting from increased EWDs did not affect ANPP. Our results indicate that elevating EWDs above ambient levels may limit root growth through large increases in soil bioturbation, but concurrent increases in cast production and nutrient availability may compensate for the suppression of root nutrient absorbing surface area leaving ANPP unchanged, but with shifts in growth (biomass) allocation toward shoots. Similarly, reductions in EWDs appeared to promote higher RLDs that increased soil nutrient foraging in soil with lower amounts of nutrients because of reduced casting activity. Amplified responses observed when rainfall during the growing season was increased suggest that EWDs may mainly affect RLDs and above- vs. belowground growth (biomass) allocation under climate changes that include more frequent wetter-than-average growing seasons.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Earthworm effects on native grassland root system dynamics under natural and increased rainfall

Arnone

Zaller

2014

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…Recent studies describe the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) as a non-invasive means for field root investigations, although the technique is limited to coarse roots (Guo et al, 2013). Apart from these, the minirhizotron technique, which uses a miniature video camera or a scanner to view and record root images through a transparent tube inserted in the soil, is less destructive than coring and enables time-course changes in root growth to be monitored (Upchurch & Ritchie, 1983;McMichael & Taylor, 1987;Smit et al, 2000;Hendricks et al, 2006). This methodology has been widely applied to the study of root dynamics in annual plants (Machado et al, 2003;Yang et al, 2003), forest trees (Day et al, 2006) and fruit trees (Fernández et al, 1992;Abrisqueta et al, 1994Abrisqueta et al, , 2008Wells et al, 2002;Bernier & Robitaille, 2004), as well as for measuring root production and mortality in several tree species (Comas et al, 2000;Crocker et al, 2003), but has been little used for evaluating the response to different crop management practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root and aerial growth in early-maturing peach trees under two crop load treatments

Abrisqueta

Conejero

López-Martínez

et al. 2017

Span. j. agric. res.

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The objectives of the paper were to study the pattern of root growth (measured by minirhizotrons) in relation to trunk, fruit and shoot growth and the effects of crop load on tree growth and yield in peach trees. Two crop load (commercial and low) treatments were applied in a mature early-maturing peach tree orchard growing in Mediterranean conditions. Root growth dynamics were measured using minirhizotrons during one growing season. Shoot, trunk and fruit growth were also measured. At harvest, all fruits were weighed, counted and sized. Roots grew throughout the year but at lower rates during the active fruit growth phase. Root growth was asynchronous with shoot growth, while root and trunk growth rates were highest after harvest, when the canopy was big enough to allocate the photo-assimilates to organs that would ensure the following season's yield. Shoot and fruit growth was greater in the low crop load treatment and was accompanied by a non-significant increase in root growth. High level of fruit thinning decreased the current yield but the fruits were more marketable because of their greater size.Additional keywords: fruit growth; minirhizotrons; phenology; Prunus persica L. Batsch; root length density; vegetative growth

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“…Apart from their main functions on the individual plant scale (i.e. plant anchorage, water and mineral absorption and translocation, food storage and hormonal regulation), roots play a key role in ecosystem processes associated with material and energy flows (Hooker et al 2000). Root growth dynamics and belowground interactions strongly affect species distribution and relative abundance, and thus plant community structure (Eissenstat et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root capacitance measurements allow non-intrusive in-situ monitoring of the seasonal dynamics and drought response of root activity in two grassland species

et al. 2020

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Background and aims In this study, the potential of nonintrusive root electrical capacitance (C R) measurements for monitoring the seasonal changes and drought response of root activity was tested on two grassland species in a climate change experiment. Methods C R was detected between a ground electrode inserted into the soil and a plant electrode attached to the stem of the perennial grass Stipa borysthenica and the biennial herb Crepis rhoeadifolia in control and drought plots throughout two growing seasons. A pilot study revealed that C R was strongly correlated with root biomass for a given time and soil water content. The effect of changing soil water content on the measured C R value was accounted for by means of species-specific experimental calibrations. Results Root activity (C R) was found to peak at the flowering stage in late spring (S. borysthenica) or early summer (C. rhoeadifolia). Both the natural shortage of rainfall and the experimental summer drought reduced root activity in both species. Stipa borysthenica displayed great plasticity in root activity, including quick post-treatment recovery during the rainy autumn. The changes observed in root activity were similar to those previously recorded using conventional root investigation techniques (i.e. destructive, minirhizotron, ingrowth core) in temperate grasslands. Conclusions Root capacitance measurements proved to be adequate for monitoring root activity in situ in natural grassland. The method could be particularly useful in studies where plant injury or soil disturbance need to be avoided.

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Root Methods

Cited by 151 publications

References 454 publications

Earthworm effects on native grassland root system dynamics under natural and increased rainfall

Earthworm effects on native grassland root system dynamics under natural and increased rainfall

Root and aerial growth in early-maturing peach trees under two crop load treatments

Root capacitance measurements allow non-intrusive in-situ monitoring of the seasonal dynamics and drought response of root activity in two grassland species

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