ISSN:
1573-5036
Keywords:
Cracks
;
Crack width
;
Lateral roots
;
Pea
;
Penetration
;
Penetrometer
;
Rape
;
Remoulded soil
;
Roots
;
Safflower
;
Seminal axes
;
Soil strength
;
Undisturbed soil
;
Wheat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Summary Experimental methods are described for observing the behaviour of roots encountering cracks in soil. The proportions of roots which enter a second soil block after crossing a crack of known width were measured. Soil strength was measured with a penetrometer. Results are presented for the proportions of seminal roots of wheat and primary lateral roots of pea which enter moulded soil of various strengths after crossing cracks. Results are also presented for the proportions of seminal roots of pea, rape and safflower which enter undisturbed soil after crossing cracks. It was found that, in all cases, the proportion of roots penetrating the second soil block decreased with increasing crack width and increasing soil strength. Also, a smaller proportion of thinner roots penetrated the second soil block than thicker roots under similar conditions. Root diameter in the cracks was influenced by both crack width and soil strength, and an empirical equation is presented to describe this effect.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02182918
Permalink
