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Sampling Strategies, Scaling, and Statistics

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Root Methods

Abstract

Many experiments aim to understand how some aspect of the aerial and soil environment of a plant influences its growth. Considerable biomass is often allocated to the root system, and it is the roots that absorb most nutrients and water (Russell 1977). The property of the root system which is most appro-priate to measure depends on the objective of the experiment. Root length should be measured to calculate the inflow rate of water and nutrients (see Chaps. 6, 13, 14). Root dry mass indicates the carbon allocation to the root system. Branching patterns and the number and lengths of each class of root, together with the distribution of root diameters gives a more complete picture of root architecture, but requires a large investment of labour. Detailed information on root architecture may be of interest in constructing mathematical models of root growth (see Chap. 4), in comparing the structure and function of root systems of different species or genotypes (e.g. Fitter and Stickland 1991), and in evaluating root responses to environmental conditions (e.g. Robinson 1994).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI), Invergrowie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, UK

    A. G. Bengough

  2. Instituto Sperimentale Agronomico, Via C. Ulsiani 5, 70125, Bari, Italy

    A. Castrignano

  3. Unité de Recherches en Ecophysiologie et Horticulture, INRA, Site Agroparc, 84914, Avignon Cédex 9, France

    L. Pagès

  4. ICRAF, JI CIFOR, PO Box 161, Situ Gede, Sindang Barang Bogor 16680, 16001, Bogor, Indonesia

    M. van Noordwijk

Authors
  1. A. G. Bengough
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  2. A. Castrignano
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  3. L. Pagès
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  4. M. van Noordwijk
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Research International (Wageningen UR), Postbus 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Albert L. Smit  & Siebe C. van de Geijn  & 

  2. Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) Invergowie, DD2 5DA, Dundee, UK

    A. Glyn Bengough

  3. Institute of Geosciences, Department of Agroecology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Christof Engels

  4. ICRAF, JI CIFOR, PO Box 161, Situ Gede Sindang Barang Bogor 16680, 16001, Bogor, Indonesia

    Meine van Noordwijk

  5. INRA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourleaux, B.P. 81, 33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Sylvain Pellerin

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bengough, A.G., Castrignano, A., Pagès, L., van Noordwijk, M. (2000). Sampling Strategies, Scaling, and Statistics. In: Smit, A.L., Bengough, A.G., Engels, C., van Noordwijk, M., Pellerin, S., van de Geijn, S.C. (eds) Root Methods. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04188-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04188-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08602-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04188-8

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