Abstract
BackgroundRoots are vital organs for plants, and the effective use of resources from the soil is important for yield stability. However, phenotypic variation in root traits among crop genotypes is mostly unknown and field screening of root development is costly and labour demanding. As a consequence, new methods are needed to investigate root traits of fully grown crops under field conditions, particularly roots in the deeper soil horizons.ResultsWe developed a new phenotyping facility (RadiMax) for the study of root growth and soil resource acquisition under semi-field conditions. The facility consists of 4 units each covering 400 m2 and containing 150 minirhizotrons, allowing root observation in the 0.4 m–1.8 m or 0.7 m–2.8 m soil depth interval. Roots are observed through minirhizotrons using a multispectral imaging system. Plants are grown in rows perpendicular to a water stress gradient created by a multi-depth sub-irrigation system and movable rainout shelters. The water stress gradient allows for a direct link between root observations and the development of stress response in the canopy.ConclusionTo test the concept and technical features, selected spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars were grown in the system for two seasons. The system enabled genotypic differences for deep root growth to be observed, and clear aboveground physiological response was also visible along the water stress gradient. Although further technical development and field validation are ongoing, the semi-field facility concept offers novel possibilities for characterising genotypic differences in the effective use of soil resources in deeper soil layers.
Highlights
Roots are vital organs for plants, and the effective use of resources from the soil is important for yield stability
The soil profile consists of repacked soil with two distinct soil layers, topsoil 0–0.4 m with subsoil below
During the period from 1 February until the onset of the drought treatment by rainout shelters in June the precipitation was similar in the 2 years (2016; 199 mm, 2017; 220 mm)
Summary
Roots are vital organs for plants, and the effective use of resources from the soil is important for yield stability. New methods are needed to investigate root traits of fully grown crops under field conditions, roots in the deeper soil horizons. New measures are needed to reduce the nitrogen (N) pollution of the environment [3]. Acquisition of leached N in deeper soil layers could improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reduce N losses to the environment [7,8,9]. Further attempts to reduce workload range from field-based methods on mature root systems to more indirect methods of early root growth in greenhouse systems (controlled environment)
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