Root development of winter wheat in erosion‐affected soils depending on the position in a hummocky ground moraine soil landscape

Agricultural soil landscapes of hummocky ground moraines are characterized by 3D spatial patterns of soil types that result from profile modifications due to the combined effect of water and tillage erosion. We hypothesize that crops reflect such soil landscape patterns by increased or reduced plant and root growth. Root development may depend on the thickness and vertical sequence of soil horizons as well as on the structural development state of these horizons at different landscape positions. The hypotheses were tested using field data of the root density (RD) and the root lengths (RL) of winter wheat using the minirhizotron technique. We compared data from plots at the CarboZALF‐D site (NE Germany) that are representing a non‐eroded reference soil profile (Albic Luvisol) at a plateau position, a strongly eroded profile at steep slope (Calcaric Regosol), and a depositional profile at the footslope (Anocolluvic Regosol). At each of these plots, three Plexiglas access tubes were installed down to approx. 1.5 m soil depth. Root measurements were carried out during the growing season of winter wheat (September 2014–August 2015) on six dates. The root length density (RLD) and the root biomass density were derived from RD values assuming a mean specific root length of 100 m g^?1. Values of RD and RLD were highest for the Anocolluvic Regosol and lowest for the Calcaric Regosol. The maximum root penetration depth was lower in the Anocolluvic Regosol because of a relatively high and fluctuating water table at this landscape position. Results revealed positive relations between below‐ground (root) and above‐ground crop parameters (i.e., leaf area index, plant height, biomass, and yield) for the three soil types. Observed root densities and root lengths in soils at the three landscape positions corroborated the hypothesis that the root system was reflecting erosion‐induced soil profile modifications. Soil landscape position dependent root growth should be considered when attempting to quantify landscape scale water and element balances as well as agricultural productivity.     

基于CI-600的绿萝根系生长状态监测

【目的】探究绿萝生长与水分胁迫之间的关系,为绿萝种养提供合适的灌溉参考依据,减少农业生产水资源浪费问题。【方法】选取绿萝为试验材料,对其进行4组不同梯度的水分处理,通过CI-600植物根系生长监测设备采集并分析根数量、根长度、根面积、根体积与水分胁迫之间的关系,并利用Excel软件进行数据处理,绘制相关参数与土壤水分胁迫之间的关系曲线,采用最小二乘法,运用二次项拟合的方法进行模型拟合,最终得出植物根系生长与水分胁迫之间的关系。【结果】利用二次项进行拟合的模型,决定系数R2绝大多数大于0.9,拟合程度高。在35%湿度条件下绿萝根数量、根面积、根体积增长速率最快,在25%～35%湿度区间内有利于根长度的增加。从拟合曲线看,25%、35%湿度条件下根数量及根长度两个指标较为一致。水分胁迫通过影响根长度及根数量,进而作用于根系面积和体积的变化;根系伸长也依赖于其直径的拓展以获取有效的吸收面积;根系体积的变化与根数量、根系直径等均有联系。【结论】绿萝最适宜的生长湿度为35%,干旱胁迫（15%）和淹水胁迫（45%）对根系生长均具有不利的影响;根系的各项生理指标在不同的水分胁迫中有不同的趋势和表现,...     

基于微根管技术的玉米根系生长监测

为了研究玉米根系生长规律,该文利用固城农业气象试验站内设置的大型根剖面系统,采用微根管观测法,对试验地上玉米主要生育期的根系生长动态进行定期直接跟踪监测,并以方形整段标本法作为参照标准,对试验数据采用MATLAB软件辅助图像处理和现代统计方法进行分析。结果表明：微根管法与方形整段标本法对得出的根长密度随深度增加呈递减型有较好的一致性,两者相关系数达到0.83以上,通过0.05的显著性检验;由观测数据建立的回归方程能较好地反映土壤中玉米根系生长规律,进一步表明微根管法是一种破坏性较小、可准确定位跟踪植物根系在土壤中生长动态变化的先进技术,对植物根系生长研究有较好的推广应用价值。     

Effects of vertical distribution of soil inorganic nitrogen on root growth and subsequent nitrogen uptake by field vegetable crops

Information is needed about root growth and N uptake of crops under different soil conditions to increase nitrogen use efficiency in horticultural production. The purpose of this study was to investigate if differences in vertical distribution of soil nitrogen (N_inorg) affected root growth and N uptake of a variety of horticultural crops. Two field experiments were performed each over 2 years with shallow or deep placement of soil N_inorg obtained by management of cover crops. Vegetable crops of leek, potato, Chinese cabbage, beetroot, summer squash and white cabbage reached root depths of 0.5, 0.7, 1.3, 1.9, 1.9 and more than 2.4 m, respectively, at harvest, and showed rates of root depth penetration from 0.2 to 1.5 mm day^?1 °C^?1. Shallow placement of soil N_inorg resulted in greater N uptake in the shallow‐rooted leek and potato. Deep placement of soil N_inorg resulted in greater rates of root depth penetration in the deep‐rooted Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage, which increased their depth by 0.2–0.4 m. The root frequency was decreased in shallow soil layers (white cabbage) and increased in deep soil layers (Chinese cabbage, summer squash and white cabbage). The influence of vertical distribution of soil N_inorg on root distribution and capacity for depletion of soil N_inorg was much less than the effect of inherent differences between species. Thus, knowledge about differences in root growth between species should be used when designing crop rotations with high N use efficiency.     

Effects of long-term contrasting lime and phosphorus applications on barley grain yield,root growth and abundance of mycorrhiza

Lime and phosphorus (P) applications are common agricultural management practices. Our aim was to quantify the effects of long-term application practices on root growth and abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under field conditions. We assessed the effects of lime and P fertilizer applications on barley yield, root growth and AMF abundance in 2016. Treatments were no, low, medium and high liming rate corresponding to application of 0, 4, 8 and 12 Mg lime ha⁻¹ every 5–9 years since 1942 combined with no or yearly application of 15.6 kg P ha⁻¹ since 1944. At harvest, grain yield, root intensity (core-break) and AMF abundance at different soil depths were estimated. Root development was monitored during early growth with minirhizotrons in treatments receiving low, medium and high liming rates and P fertilization. A quadratic model relating grain yield to liming rate estimated yields to peak at 6.4 Mg lime ha⁻¹ with yields of 4.2 and 3.2 Mg grain ha⁻¹ with and without P fertilization, respectively. Low and medium liming rates resulted in greater AMF abundance, especially in the no P treatments. During early growth in P-fertilized treatments, 77% and 65% more roots developed in the soil profile when treated with medium and high liming rate, respectively, compared to low liming rate. We conclude that long-term application of lime in soils receiving yearly P fertilization improved conditions for root growth in soil layers below 30 cm, but at the high liming rate, this did not translate into higher yield.     

Minirhizotron quantification of soybean root growth as affected by reduced A horizon in soil

Shallow soil A horizon (topsoil) caused by soil erosion and soil movement from cultivation is known to reduce soil and crop productivity. The reduction may be related to limitation of root growth. A field study was conducted to investigate the effects of topsoil thickness on distributions of root density and growth. Soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were grown on plots of Mexico silt loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Mollic Endoaqualfs) with topsoil thicknesses of 0, 12.5, 25.0, and 37.5 cm above the Bt horizons. Root density was measured 60 and 90 days after planting using a minirhizotron video‐camera system. Root density was significantly reduced as topsoil thickness decreased from 37.5 to 0 cm. Mean density and net change of the density across profile between 30 and 60 days of growth had a linear function of topsoil thickness. The reduction and lower activity induced by shallow topsoil were attributed to detrimental properties in the Bt horizons. Root distribution pattern and rooting depth were not significantly affected by topsoil thickness. The roots appeared to be accumulated on the upper layers of the Bt horizons. Roots growing in thicker topsoil were more active than roots growing without topsoil. High soil moisture content during the growing season may mitigate the detrimental effects of shallow topsoil, inhibit root penetration, and enhance root activity.     

Root‐growth characteristics contributing to genotypic variation in nitrogen efficiency of oilseed rape

A 3‐year field experiment was carried out to determine the significance of root‐growth characteristics contributing to N‐uptake efficiency of two oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in N efficiency. Two N treatments were applied, and the core and minirhizotron techniques were used to study root‐length density and number of living roots, respectively. Fertilizer‐N supply increased shoot dry matter, grain yield, total N uptake, and total soil N_min contents particularly in the top soil. Although significant differences occurred in all parameters between years, the interactions between years and cultivars were mostly not significant. Compared to cv. Capitol, the N‐efficient cv. Apex was characterized by a higher grain yield at N0 and a higher N uptake during reproductive growth. This genotype also had a higher root‐length density and more living fine roots particularly in the topsoil layer. Root growth of this genotype was especially high from beginning of shooting to beginning of flowering, while shoot growth and N uptake during vegetative growth were comparatively low. Our results suggest that N‐efficient cultivars can be characterized by a high investment in root growth during the vegetative stage with a comparatively slow shoot growth and N‐uptake rate until beginning of flowering, which, however, continues during reproductive growth. High root production only during reproductive growth seems to be less effective to achieve high N efficiency, because this may lead to a shortage of assimilates for seed filling. High root‐length density at vegetative stages may thus be advantageous for N uptake and reproductive growth and could be a useful morphological character for the selection and breeding of N‐efficient cultivars.     

基于微根管技术的玉米根系生长监测

为了研究玉米根系生长规律,该文利用固城农业气象试验站内设置的大型根剖面系统,采用微根管观测法,对试验地上玉米主要生育期的根系生长动态进行定期直接跟踪监测,并以方形整段标本法作为参照标准,对试验数据采用MATLAB软件辅助图像处理和现代统计方法进行分析。结果表明：微根管法与方形整段标本法对得出的根长密度随深度增加呈递减型有较好的一致性,两者相关系数达到0.83以上,通过0.05的显著性检验;由观测数据建立的回归方程能较好地反映土壤中玉米根系生长规律,进一步表明微根管法是一种破坏性较小、可准确定位跟踪植物根系在土壤中生长动态变化的先进技术,对植物根系生长研究有较好的推广应用价值。     

Automated analysis of fine‐root dynamics using a series of digital images

Information related to the growth of fine roots is important for understanding C allocation in trees and the mechanisms of C cycling in ecosystems. Observations using a camera or scanner embedded in the soil enabled us to obtain continuous images of fine‐root‐growth dynamics. However, these methods are still labor‐intensive because the image analysis has to be conducted manually. We developed an automated method for tracking movement or elongation of fine roots using a sequence of scanner images. We also show how data obtained with these methods can be used for calculating fine‐root behavior. Two A4‐size scanners were buried in a mixed forest in Japan and images were taken continuously from within the soil. We preprocessed these images by extracting the fine‐root area from the images and developed an automated calculation plug‐in we named A‐root for tracking growth movement of the tips of fine roots. A‐root and manual‐tracking results were compared using the same images. The results show the A‐root and manual‐tracking methods yielded similar levels of accuracy. The average growth rate of 17 fine roots tracked using the program was 0.16 mm h^–1. The observation of the direction of growth in fine roots showed the direction may be influenced by the original root's growth where the fine roots branched, distribution of soil particles, other roots, and the force of gravity. The A‐root analysis also suggested there may be an interaction between speed of growth and changes in direction of growing fine roots.