What is it about?
In laboratory conditions we observed how wheat root system was affected by increasing soil density. We showed that increase in soil density to moderate level helps do not restricts root growth and help in water uptake through beter contact between roots and soil. However in heavili compacte soil root growth rate was restricted in a high degree, at the same time root thickening was observed. Both these negative alterations within root system restricted root capability to uptake water.
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Why is it important?
In field conditions soil is often compacted due to multiple passes of heavy agricultural vehicles. It especially concerns deeper soil that is not being loosened with tillage. Restricted root penetration through subsoil reduces available water for crops that depermines yields and increases risk of nitrogen leaching. We showed that root water upatke is higly depended on thin roots.
Perspectives
We shoved that it is important to avoid compaction of soil as it reduces changes within root system that limits its capability to uptake water and dissolved nutrients increasing risk or yield reduction.
Dr Artur Nosalewicz
Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The effect of compacted soil layers on vertical root distribution and water uptake by wheat, Plant and Soil, November 2013, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-013-1961-0.
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