Root length density and carbon content of agroforestry and grass buffers under grazed pasture systems in a Hapludalf

Abstract Aims Phosphorus (P) availability and efficiency are especially important for plant growth and productivity. However, the sex-specific P acquisition and utilization strategies of dioecious plant species under different N forms are not clear. Methods This study investigated the responsive mechanisms of dioecious Populus cathayana females and males based on P uptake and allocation to soil P supply under N deficiency, nitrate (NO3 −) and ammonium (NH4 +) supply. Important Findings Females had a greater biomass, root length density (RLD), specific root length (SRL) and shoot P concentration than males under normal P availability with two N supplies. NH4 + supply led to higher total root length, RLD and SRL but lower root tip number than NO3 − supply under normal P supply. Under P deficiency, males showed a smaller root system but greater photosynthetic P availability and higher leaf P remobilization, exhibiting a better capacity to adaptation to P-deficiency than females. Under P deficiency, NO3 − supply increased leaf photosynthesis and PUE but reduced RLD and SRL in females while males had higher leaf P redistribution and photosynthetic PUE than NH4 + supply. Females had a better potentiality to cope with P deficiency under NO3 − supply than NH4 + supply; the contrary was true for males. These results suggest that females may devote to increase in P uptake and shoot P allocation under normal P availability, especially under NO3 − supply, while males adopt more efficient resource use and P remobilization to maximum their tolerance to P-deficiency.

Download Full-text

Root Phenotyping for Drought Tolerance: A Review

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy8110241 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 241 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Allah Wasaya ◽

Xiying Zhang ◽

Qin Fang ◽

Zongzheng Yan

Keyword(s):

Drought Tolerance ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Canopy Temperature ◽

Specific Root Length ◽

Root Traits ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Invasive Approach ◽

Root Phenotyping

Plant roots play a significant role in plant growth by exploiting soil resources via the uptake of water and nutrients. Root traits such as fine root diameter, specific root length, specific root area, root angle, and root length density are considered useful traits for improving plant productivity under drought conditions. Therefore, understanding interactions between roots and their surrounding soil environment is important, which can be improved through root phenotyping. With the advancement in technologies, many tools have been developed for root phenotyping. Canopy temperature depression (CTD) has been considered a good technique for field phenotyping of crops under drought and is used to estimate crop yield as well as root traits in relation to drought tolerance. Both laboratory and field-based methods for phenotyping root traits have been developed including soil sampling, mini-rhizotron, rhizotrons, thermography and non-soil techniques. Recently, a non-invasive approach of X-ray computed tomography (CT) has provided a break-through to study the root architecture in three dimensions (3-D). This review summarizes methods for root phenotyping. On the basis of this review, it can be concluded that root traits are useful characters to be included in future breeding programs and for selecting better cultivars to increase crop yield under water-limited environments.

Download Full-text

Shallow Substrates Support the Growth of Contrasting Plant Types Installed in Irrigated, Arid-Climate Green Roofs1

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-35.4.146 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 146-155

Author(s):

Lauren Forrest ◽

Rachel Gioannini ◽

Dawn M. VanLeeuwen ◽

Rolston St. Hilaire

Keyword(s):

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Green Roofs ◽

Greenhouse Experiment ◽

Outdoor Environment ◽

Arid Climate ◽

Evaporative Demand ◽

Design Factor ◽

Substrate Depth

Abstract Extreme evaporative demand makes substrate depth a critical design factor in arid-climate green roofs. The objective of this study was to determine whether a shallow irrigated substrate could support the growth of hens and chicks (Sempervivum calcareum L.) and iceplant [Delosperma nubigenum (Hook.f.) L.Bolus] in an arid environment. First, an experiment was conducted in the greenhouse that established that plants survived in 10 cm (3.9 in), 15 cm (5.9 in), and 20 cm (7.9 in) substrate depths, which then lead to a second experiment in an outdoor environment. The substrate was heat-expanded clay:sand:worm castings (6:3:1, by volume) in a greenhouse experiment and heat-expanded clay:zeolite:worm castings (6:3:1, by volume) in an outdoor experiment. In the greenhouse experiment, deep root length density (RLD) was significantly greater in the 10 cm-deep (3.9 in) substrate, while outdoors, deep RLD was highest for plants grown in the 15 cm-deep (5.9 in) substrate. Outdoors, iceplant had significantly greater mean coverage and shoot dry weight than hens and chicks. Lack of significant differences in quality and coverage due to substrate depth, coupled with higher RLD in the 10 cm (3.9 in) and 15 cm (5.9 in) depths in both experiments provides evidence that shallow irrigated substrates support the growth of both taxa. Index words: iceplant, hens and chicks, plant coverage, root length density, quality, zeolite, heat expanded clay. Species used in this study: hens and chicks (Sempervivum calcareum L.); iceplant [Delosperma nubigenum (Hook.f.) L. Bolus].

Download Full-text

Elevated carbon dioxide and temperature effects on rooting behaviour of grape cuttings

Journal of Agrometeorology ◽

10.54386/jam.v23i3.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 257-264

Author(s):

SHRUTHI REDDY L ◽

GOPALA KRISHNA REDDY A ◽

VANAJA. M ◽

MARUTHI. V. ◽

VANAJA LATHA. K.

Keyword(s):

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Total Root Length ◽

Thompson Seedless ◽

Root Volume ◽

Software Analysis ◽

Root Parameters ◽

Dry Biomass ◽

Grape Varieties ◽

The Impact

An experiment was laid out to study the impact of eCO2 (550ppm), eT (+3ºC) and their interaction (eCO2+eT) on rooting behaviour of cuttings of three grape varieties- Thompson Seedless, Bangalore Blue, and Dogridge in FATE and OTC facilities. Observations were recorded at 50 and 80 days after planting (DAP) and root growth data was recorded and analysed using WinRHIZO root scanner and its software. Analysis revealed that, among the selected grape varieties, Thompson Seedless cuttings has shown highest number of roots, root volume and dry biomass under eCO2 and eCO2+ eT conditions, while total root length and root length density were highest with Bangalore Blue. Under eT condition, Bangalore Blue showed highest number of roots, total root length and root length density, while root volume and dry biomass was highest with Thompson Seedless. The per se values of root parameters under all conditions and their response to eCO2 was lowest with Dogridge. Though eT condition reduced all the root parameters, their performance improved under eCO2+ eT indicating the presence of higher concentration of CO2 reduced the ill effects of high temperature. Overall, eCO2 and eCO2+eT conditions improved root parameters of grape varieties, while eT reduced them as compared to their performance under ambient condition and varietal variation is significant.

Download Full-text

Above and Belowground Growth of Corymbia maculata in a Constructed Soil: The Effect of Profile Design and Organic Amendment

Arboriculture & Urban Forestry ◽

10.48044/jauf.2010.002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 11-17

Author(s):

Karen Smith ◽

Peter May ◽

Robert White

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Root Length ◽

Organic Amendment ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Fertilizer Treatment ◽

Coir Fiber ◽

Growth Responses ◽

Profile Design

Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata (Hook.) K.D. Hill & L.A.S. Johnson), a common street tree in southern Australian cities, was used to assess growth responses to variations in profile design and organic amendment of constructed soils. Aboveground growth responses were total stem dry weight and foliar nutrient content. The belowground response was root length density. Soil profiles were constructed of sand, amended with either coir fiber, composted biosolids or composted green waste, at rates of 0, 5, 10 or 20% by volume. The profiles were either layered, with a 150 mm (6 in) organic-amended surface layer, or uniform, with amendment of the entire profile. A single fertilizer treatment was applied to all profiles. Shoot dry weight was only affected by organic matter type with the greatest growth in sand amended with composted biosolids. Foliage P and K content were affected by amendment but foliage N was not. Profile design affected root length density and distribution. Trees in uniform profiles had greater root length density, and a more uniform distribution of roots, especially with compost amendments. Above- and belowground growth increases are thought to be due to increased nutrient status resulting from organic matter mineralization.

Download Full-text

Root architecture, rooting profiles and physiological responses of potential slope plants grown on acidic soil

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9595 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9595

Author(s):

Deivaseeno Dorairaj ◽

Muhammad Fahmi Suradi ◽

Nursyamimi Syafiqah Mansor ◽

Normaniza Osman

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Average Diameter ◽

Progressive Increase ◽

Acidic Soil ◽

Melastoma Malabathricum ◽

Root Anchorage ◽

Healthy Growth

Globally, there has been an increase in the frequency of landslides which is the result of slope failures. The combination of high intensity rainfall and high temperature resulted in the formation of acidic soil which is detrimental to the healthy growth of plants. Proper plant coverage on slopes is a prerequisite to mitigate and rehabilitate the soil. However, not all plant species are able to grow in marginal land. Thus, this study was undertaken to find a suitable slope plant species. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different soil pH on root profiles and growth of three different potential slope plant species namely, Melastoma malabathricum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Syzygium campanulatum. M. malabathricum showed the highest tolerance to acidic soil as it recorded the highest plant height and photosynthetic rate. The root systems of M. malabathricum, H. rosa-sinensis and S. campanulatum were identified as M, VH- and R-types, respectively. The study proposed M. malabathricum which possessed dense and shallow roots to be planted at the toe or top of the slope while H. rosa-sinensis and S. campanulatum to be planted in the middle of a slope. S. campanulatum consistently recorded high root length and root length density across all three types of soil pH while M. malabathricum showed progressive increase in length as the soil pH increased. The root average diameter and root volume of M. malabathricum outperformed the other two plant species irrespective of soil pH. In terms of biomass, M. malabathricum exhibited the highest root and shoot dry weights followed by S. campanulatum. Thus, we propose M. malabathricum to be planted on slopes as a form of soil rehabilitation. The plant species displayed denser rooting, hence a stronger root anchorage that can hold the soil particles together which will be beneficial for slope stabilization.

Download Full-text

Interspecies interaction intensity influences water consumption in wheat/maize intercropping by regulating root length density

Crop Science ◽

10.1002/csc2.20639 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yifan Wang ◽

Wen Yin ◽

Falong Hu ◽

Zhilong Fan ◽

Cai Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Consumption ◽

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Interspecies Interaction ◽

Interaction Intensity

Download Full-text

The Effect of Different Fertilization Treatments on Wheat Root Depth and Length Density Distribution in a Long-Term Experiment

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10091355 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1355

Author(s):

Pavel Svoboda ◽

Gabriela Kurešová ◽

Ivana Raimanová ◽

Eva Kunzová ◽

Jan Haberle

Keyword(s):

Density Distribution ◽

Root Length ◽

Root Length Density ◽

Resource Depletion ◽

Triticum Aestivum L ◽

Wheat Root ◽

Root Depth ◽

Wheat Roots ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Long Term Experiment

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sixty years of contrasting fertilization treatments on the roots of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at sites with different soil and climate conditions. The depth and length density distribution of the wheat roots were determined between 2014 and 2016 in a crop rotation experiment established in 1955 at three sites: Lukavec, Čáslav, and Ivanovice (Czech Republic). Three fertilization treatments were examined: Zero fertilization (N0), organic (ORG) fertilization, and mineral (MIN) fertilization. The fertilization, site, and year all had a significant effect on the total root length (TRL). The average TRL per square meter reached 30.2, 37.0, and 46.1 km with the N0, ORG, and MIN treatments at Lukavec, respectively, which was the site with the lightest soil and the coldest climate. At Čáslav and Ivanovice (warmer sites with silt and loamy soils), the average TRL per square meter reached 41.2, 42.4, and 47.7 km at Čáslav and 49.2, 55.3, and 62.9 km at Ivanovice with the N0, MIN, and ORG treatments, respectively. The effect of fertilization on the effective root depth (EfRD), the depth at which the root length density dropped below 2.0 cm cm−3, was significant, while the maximum root depth (RMD) was only marginally affected. With the sites and years averaged, the MIN-treated plants showed a greater EfRD (102.2 cm) in comparison to the N0 (81.8 cm) and ORG (93.5 cm) treatments. The N0 treatment showed no signs of an adaptive reaction to the root system, with potential improvement for nutrient acquisition, while optimal fertilization contributed to the potential for resource depletion from the soil profile.

Download Full-text