The Root System Of Fruit Plants

The Root System of Fruit Plants provides the horticulturist with the information he needs to be able to choose an adequate method for discovering the causes of weak growth in fruit-bearing plants, for determining the correct depth of soil treatment in orchards and soft-fruit plantations, and for improving the system of agrotechnical measures that will ensure high yields of fruit. Many of these techniques can be employed in studying the root systems of forest trees, decoratives, and grapevines, and some arc also applicable for the examination of vegetables and field crops. The book is recommended for research workers, teachers, post-graduate students, and undergraduates of agricultural faculties and colleges, and for practising agronomists. The book was translated from the Russian by Ludmila Aksenova, and was first published by Mir Publishers in 1971. CONTENTS FROM THE AUTHOR 9 Chapter 1. STRUCTURE AND ACTIVITY OF THE ROOT SYSTEM 11 The Role of the Root System and the History of Its Study 12 Types of Root System of Trees and Shrubs 19 Types of Hoots 23 Root Hairs 27 The Mycorrhiza (or Hoot Fungus) and Rhizosphere of Plants 33 Cyclic Renewal (Self-Thinning) of Roots 33 Effect of External Factors on Root Growth 41 Formation of the Root System 49 Correlation and Localization of Plant Life Activity 67 Vegetation and Rest Periods in Fruit Plants 69 Meteorological and Soil Conditions of Studies 72 Growth and Fruiting Control 79 Chapter 2. DEVELOPMENT AND CLASSIFICATION OF METHODS OF ROOT SYSTEM STUDIES 82 Classification of Methods 84 Chapter 3. THE SKELETON METHOD 87 Specific Features and Application 87 Techniques of Root Excavation 89 Drawing a Plan of Horizontal Roots 92 Drawing a Plan of Vertical Roots 93 Additional Observations 94 Simplified Modification of the Skeleton Method 95 Treatment of Data Obtained 97 Evaluation of the Method and Examples of Its Application 101 Chapter 4. THE MONOLITH METHOD 103 Specific Features and Purpose 103 Techniques of Excavation and Preparation of Roots for Grading 105 Simplified Modification of the Monolith Method 108 Treatment of Data Obtained 122 Evaluation of the Method and Examples of Its Application 127 Chapter 6. THE TRENCH (PROFILE) METHOD 134 Specific Features and Purpose 134 Techniques of Root Excavation 135 Modifications and Simplifications 136 Treatment of Data Obtained 139 Evaluation of the Method and Its Applications 146 Chapter 6. METHOD FOR WASHING OUT ROOTS OF WHOLE PLANTS 148 Specific Features and Purpose 148 Techniques of Root Excavation 149 Modifications of the Method 151 Treatment of Data 155 Evaluation of the Method and Its Applications 158 Chapter 7. FIELD (GLASS-PANEL) METHOD 159 Specific Features and Purpose 159 Root Cabins and Root Laboratories 160 Modifications of the Method 165 Treatment of Data Obtained 171 Evaluation of the Method and Its Applications 176 Chapter 8. FREE-MONOLITH METHOD 180 Specific Features and Purpose 180 Techniques of Root Excavation 186 Specific Features of Roots 189 Modifications of the Method 193 Root Recording and Treatment of Data Obtained 194 Evaluation of tho Method and Its Applications 201 Chapter 9. BORING METHOD 204 Specific Features and Purpose 204 Construction of Tool for Root Excavation and Techniques Used 205 Evaluation of the Method and Its Applications 206 Chapter 10. VOLUMETRIC AND ADSORPTION METHODS 209 Methods of Root Washing 209 Estimation of the Surface Area of the Hoot System 214 Adsorption Method 219 Chapter 11. OTHER METHODS 223 Method for Studying the Distribution of Absorbing Roots in the Soil 223 Method for Studying the Root System on Slopes 225 Growing of Soil Cultures in Vegetation Vessels and Boxes 229 Method for Separating the Absorbing Roots from the Fibre 240 Method for Recording Root Hairs 241 Methods for Determining Root Diameter 245 Methods for Studying Root Regeneration 245 Methods for Determining the Effect of Temperature on Root Growth (Muromtsev, 1955) 246 Method for Photographic Sketching of the Root System 248 Aspects of Fruit Plant Root System Studies 249 References 255