Substituting root numbers for length: improving the use of minirhizotrons to study fine root dynamics

Crocker, Tracey L.; Hendrick, Ronald L.; Ruess, Roger W.; Pregitzer, Kurt S.; Burton, Andrew J.; Allen, Michael F.; Shan, Jianping; Morris, Lawrence A.

doi:10.1016/s0929-1393(03)00024-6

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This analysis allowed the generation of a regression between root number and root length ðy ¼ 4:50x; R 2 ¼ 0:86; P < 0:01Þ. Several other studies have shown a tight correlation between root number and root length as observed in minirhizotron images, suggesting that once the relationship is known for a given site the metrics may be used interchangeably (summarized in Crocker et al, 2003). However, it is possible that the relationship between number and length changed over time or between sites in our study.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine root production and turnover across a complex edaphic gradient of a Pinus palustris–Aristida stricta savanna ecosystem

West

Espeleta

Donovan

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine root production and turnover across a complex edaphic gradient of a Pinus palustris–Aristida stricta savanna ecosystem

West

Espeleta

Donovan

2004

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…To determine abundance of rhizomorphs, we calculated the number of live individuals per tube at each collection time. Numbers of roots are often highly correlated with root length in minirhizotron studies (Crocker et al, 2003).…”

Section: Image Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifespans of fungal rhizomorphs under nitrogen fertilization in a pinyon-juniper woodland

et al. 2005

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The lifespan of individual microbes in the soil influences nutrient cycling rates as well as population dynamics, but their responses to global change factors such as anthropogenic nitrogen deposition have been challenging to quantify in situ. We used minirhizotron images to track the abundance and turnover rate of individual fungal rhizomorphs under nitrogen fertilization in a pinyon-juniper woodland in New Mexico. We hypothesized that increases in nitrogen availability would alter rhizomorph lifespan and abundance. Sequential images were collected over eight sampling dates from November 1997 to August 1999, and a total of 278 rhizomorphs were examined. We found that neither standing stocks nor lifespans of rhizomorphs differed significantly between treatments. Lifespans of rhizomorphs lasted eleven months on average, indicating that nutrient immobilization in these structures could last for longer than a growing season in these sites.

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“…Apart from these, the minirhizotron technique, which uses a miniature video camera or a scanner to view and record root images through a transparent tube inserted in the soil, is less destructive than coring and enables time-course changes in root growth to be monitored (Upchurch & Ritchie, 1983;McMichael & Taylor, 1987;Smit et al, 2000;Hendricks et al, 2006). This methodology has been widely applied to the study of root dynamics in annual plants (Machado et al, 2003;Yang et al, 2003), forest trees (Day et al, 2006) and fruit trees (Fernández et al, 1992;Abrisqueta et al, 1994Abrisqueta et al, , 2008Wells et al, 2002;Bernier & Robitaille, 2004), as well as for measuring root production and mortality in several tree species (Comas et al, 2000;Crocker et al, 2003), but has been little used for evaluating the response to different crop management practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Root and aerial growth in early-maturing peach trees under two crop load treatments

Abrisqueta

Conejero

López-Martínez

et al. 2017

Span. j. agric. res.

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The objectives of the paper were to study the pattern of root growth (measured by minirhizotrons) in relation to trunk, fruit and shoot growth and the effects of crop load on tree growth and yield in peach trees. Two crop load (commercial and low) treatments were applied in a mature early-maturing peach tree orchard growing in Mediterranean conditions. Root growth dynamics were measured using minirhizotrons during one growing season. Shoot, trunk and fruit growth were also measured. At harvest, all fruits were weighed, counted and sized. Roots grew throughout the year but at lower rates during the active fruit growth phase. Root growth was asynchronous with shoot growth, while root and trunk growth rates were highest after harvest, when the canopy was big enough to allocate the photo-assimilates to organs that would ensure the following season's yield. Shoot and fruit growth was greater in the low crop load treatment and was accompanied by a non-significant increase in root growth. High level of fruit thinning decreased the current yield but the fruits were more marketable because of their greater size.Additional keywords: fruit growth; minirhizotrons; phenology; Prunus persica L. Batsch; root length density; vegetative growth

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Substituting root numbers for length: improving the use of minirhizotrons to study fine root dynamics

Cited by 34 publications

References 25 publications

Fine root production and turnover across a complex edaphic gradient of a Pinus palustris–Aristida stricta savanna ecosystem

Fine root production and turnover across a complex edaphic gradient of a Pinus palustris–Aristida stricta savanna ecosystem

Lifespans of fungal rhizomorphs under nitrogen fertilization in a pinyon-juniper woodland

Root and aerial growth in early-maturing peach trees under two crop load treatments

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