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Profile Modification and Root Yield, Distribution, and Activity 1
Author(s) -
Eck Harold V.,
Davis Ronald G.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1971.00021962006300060034x
Subject(s) - plough , chemistry , yield (engineering) , taproot , horticulture , agronomy , biology , materials science , metallurgy
Deep plowing or other profile medication of a soil may alter root yield and distribution. Root systems of plants grown on soil rotary tilled 20 cm deep; plowed 90 cm deep; and plowed 90 cm deep with 22,400 kg/ha of Na 2 CO 3 were sampled to (i) determine effects of treatments on yield and distribution of roots, and (ii) examine relationships between root yields and root activity as indicated by top‐root ratios and Sr 85 uptake. Deep plowing tended to decrease root yields of sudangrass ( Sorghum sudanense ), sugarbeets, ( Beta vulgaris ), and soybeans ( Glycine max ) but had little effect on those of cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. ‘capitata’). Root yields decreased with depth on soil rototilled to 20 cm or moldboard plowed to 90 cm, but roots tended to be evenly distributed throughout the 90 cm profile when 22,400 kg/ha of Na 2 CO 3 was applied at the 90‐cm plow depth. Root activity, as measured by top‐root ratios, was enhanced by profile modification. Top‐root ratios are shown to be better indicators of root activity than top or root yields alone. Sr 85 uptake data indicated that roots in the 70‐ to 90‐cm zone were as active as those in the O‐ to 20‐cm zone. Na 2 CO 3 tended to increase root weights in its zone of application but reduced radiostrontium uptake about eightfold compared with uptake from similarly placed radiostrontium without Na 2 CO 3 , indicating a Na 2 CO 3 ‐induced decrease in root activity.