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Abstract
Roots control the uptake of water and nutrients by plants, and hence their dry matter production. One of the greatest constraints to our understanding of root dynamics has been the laborious tedium associated with accurate measurements of various root parameters. A technique is presented for the fast and accurate measurement of the length and diameter of all fragments of corn (Zea mays L.) roots contained in most 0.04 by 0.15 m soil cores by analyzing a single NIH‐Image of those roots. These parameters are determined by measuring the perimeter and area of each root fragment utilizing NIH‐Image analyses contained in a public domain software (NIH‐Image). When length and diameter are coupled with nutrient uptake data, we will have a better understanding of where plants extract nutrients and water in space and time.
Notes
Soil Scientist, Soil and Water Management Research Unit, USDA‐Agricultural Research Service, Associate Professor, Soil Science Dept., Support Scientist, USDA‐ARS, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108.
