THE SOIL-BLOCK WASHING METHOD IN QUANTITATIVE ROOT STUDY

It has been observed consistently that competition among plants first takes place between the root systems, and that the nature, vigor, extent and distribution of the root systems have an important bearing, on the development of top growth. A new technique for root studies, the Soil-block Washing Method, is described in considerable detail. This method enables the investigator to procure entire root systems at any stage of plant development, from plants grown under natural soil conditions.