New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts
Monitoring root length density and root biomass in asparagus (Asparagus
officinalis) with soil cores
Daniel Drost
Plants, Soils and Biometeorology
Utah State University
Logan, UT 84322
United States
email: dand@ext.usu.edu
Derek Wilson
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
Research Limited
Private Bag 4704, Christchurch
New Zealand
email: wilsond@crop.cri.nz
Abstract Soil type, crop management practices, annual
plant growth patterns, and seasonal changes in the soil environment all influence
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) roots. This study describes the
dynamic changes in root growth that occur during the annual growth cycle
of asparagus grown in two contrasting soil types and crop management systems.
Root length density and biomass were estimated from soil cores (55 mm diam.
x 0.2 m long) collected to 1 m in three locations adjacent to the row (0.15,
0.3, and 0.6 m from row centre). Samples were collected on six dates (early,
or postharvest at early, mid, or late fern growth, and dormant period) between
October 1999 and June 2000. Test sites varied with soil type (sandy loam
or silt loam) and crop management system (normal 12-week harvest or extended
15-week harvest). Fleshy and fibrous roots were collected, root length density
determined, and dry weights measured. Fleshy asparagus roots grew deeper
in a sandy soil than in a silt soil, had higher dry matter content in silt
than in sandy soil, and greater root length in a silt compared to a sandy
soil. Fibrous root length density was greater during fern growth than during
harvest, in a sandy versus a silt soil and at shallow versus deep sampling
depths. Sampling date, soil depth, and sample location all significantly
influenced asparagus fleshy and fibrous root biomass. Soil cores accurately
estimated both total fleshy root length density and dry matter content when
compared to the more time-consuming complete root excavation. Results can
be used to improve crop management practices, predict root biomass, and increase
our understanding of the dynamics of root development in asparagus.
Keywords Asparagus officinalis; root distribution;
root sampling; root dynamics
H02063 Received 27 August 2002; accepted 13 January 2003; published 12
June 2003
New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2003, Vol. 31:
125-137
0014-0671/03/3102-0125 $7.00 © The Royal Society of New Zealand
2003
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