Barley nutrient uptake, root growth and depth distribution in two soil types in a rhizotron with vertical and horizontal minirhizotrons
1993
Andren, O. | Hansson, A.C. | Vegh, K. (Sveriges Lantbruksuniv., Uppsala (Sweden). Inst. foer Ekologi och Miljoevaard)
Barley was cultivated in a rhizotron with 1-m-deep windows facing a sandy or clayey soil. The plants were irrigated/fertilized at 3-day intervals, to minimize water and nutrient constraints for the the crop. Vertical minirhizotron tubes were installed in both soil types, and horizontal tubes were installed at three depths in the sandy soil. Roots were counted (minirhizotrons) and their total lenght was measured (rhizotron windows) seven and ten times, respectively, during the growing season. Soil moisture was monitored from the minirhizotrons using a capacitance method. At harvest, above-ground parts were cut, and roots were sampled by soil coring and biomass, root length and contents of N, P and K were measured. The soils were sampled for mineral N and water-soluble P and K before and after the growing season. Total crop dry mass at harvest in the sand was similar to that in the clay, but the crop grown on sand contained more N and P than the crop grown on clay. In the soil cores, root biomass did not differ between soil types, but root length was higher in the sand. Root numbers, root length and mean depth were greater in the sand than in the clay when observed with vertical minirhizotrons or rhizotron windows. The reasons for these differences are discussed in relation to soil water and soil nutrient conditions. The apparent vertical distribution of roots differed greatly depending on the method used, being deepest for the vertical tubes and shallowest for soil cores. The causes for these differences are discussed briefly.
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