A method for counting roots observed in minirhizotrons and their theoretical conversion to root length density

S. T. Buckland; C. D. Campbell; L. A. Mackie-Dawson; G. W. Horgan; E. I. Duff

doi:10.1007/BF00010539

A method for counting roots observed in minirhizotrons and their theoretical conversion to root length density

S. T. Buckland^*, C. D. Campbell, L. A. Mackie-Dawson, G. W. Horgan, E. I. Duff

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A method for counting root intersections with observation tubes (mini- or micro-rhizotrons) is proposed that allows a theoretical conversion of root counts to estimated root length density and which is robust to the effects of tracking along the tubes. A field test showed that the method agreed well with measured root length densities in cores for wild cherry roots but not for roots of pasture species. The circumstances in which the method might be expected to perform well are discussed. Analysis of data from a field trial revealed that root counts were not uniformly distributed around the circumference of the observation tube. Implications for the design of such trials are noted.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	Plant and Soil
Volume	153
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00010539
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 1993

Keywords

borescope
minirhizotron
pasture
root length density
silvopastoral
wild cherry

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10.1007/BF00010539

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abstract = "A method for counting root intersections with observation tubes (mini- or micro-rhizotrons) is proposed that allows a theoretical conversion of root counts to estimated root length density and which is robust to the effects of tracking along the tubes. A field test showed that the method agreed well with measured root length densities in cores for wild cherry roots but not for roots of pasture species. The circumstances in which the method might be expected to perform well are discussed. Analysis of data from a field trial revealed that root counts were not uniformly distributed around the circumference of the observation tube. Implications for the design of such trials are noted.",

keywords = "borescope, minirhizotron, pasture, root length density, silvopastoral, wild cherry",

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AU - Buckland, S. T.

AU - Campbell, C. D.

AU - Mackie-Dawson, L. A.

AU - Horgan, G. W.

AU - Duff, E. I.

PY - 1993/6/1

Y1 - 1993/6/1

N2 - A method for counting root intersections with observation tubes (mini- or micro-rhizotrons) is proposed that allows a theoretical conversion of root counts to estimated root length density and which is robust to the effects of tracking along the tubes. A field test showed that the method agreed well with measured root length densities in cores for wild cherry roots but not for roots of pasture species. The circumstances in which the method might be expected to perform well are discussed. Analysis of data from a field trial revealed that root counts were not uniformly distributed around the circumference of the observation tube. Implications for the design of such trials are noted.

AB - A method for counting root intersections with observation tubes (mini- or micro-rhizotrons) is proposed that allows a theoretical conversion of root counts to estimated root length density and which is robust to the effects of tracking along the tubes. A field test showed that the method agreed well with measured root length densities in cores for wild cherry roots but not for roots of pasture species. The circumstances in which the method might be expected to perform well are discussed. Analysis of data from a field trial revealed that root counts were not uniformly distributed around the circumference of the observation tube. Implications for the design of such trials are noted.

KW - borescope

KW - minirhizotron

KW - pasture

KW - root length density

KW - silvopastoral

KW - wild cherry

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JO - Plant and Soil

JF - Plant and Soil

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ER -

A method for counting roots observed in minirhizotrons and their theoretical conversion to root length density

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Keywords

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