Skip Navigation



JXB Advance Access published online on April 28, 2003
Journal of Experimental Botany, doi:10.1093/jxb/erg154
© 2003 by Oxford University Press
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
54/387/1511    most recent
erg154v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Nadezhdina, N.
Right arrow Articles by Cermák, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Nadezhdina, N.
Right arrow Articles by Cermák, J.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Nadezhdina, N.
Right arrow Articles by Cermák, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Received November 1, 2002; accepted February 6, 2003
© 2003 Society for Experimental Biology

REVIEW ARTICLE: FIELD TECHNIQUES

Instrumental methods for studies of structure and function of root systems of large trees

Nadezhda Nadezhdina 1* Jan Cermák 1

1 Institute of Forest Ecology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Zemedelská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: nadezdan{at}mendelu.cz.


  Abstract

New methods using different physical principles have been successfully applied in studies of root systems of large trees. The ground-penetrating radar technique provides 3D images of coarse roots (starting with a diameter of about 20 mm) from the soil surface down to a depth of several metres. This can even be done under layers of undisturbed materials such as concrete, asphalt and water. Fine roots cannot be visualized by this method, but the total rooted volume of soil can be determined. The differential electric conductance method has been used for fast measurement of conducting (absorbing) root surfaces. However, more testing is needed. Both these methods are non-invasive. The results can be verified by an almost harmless excavation of whole root systems, including fine roots, using the ultrasonic air-stream (air-spade) method. This method is suitable for all studies, as well as practical operations on roots or objects in their vicinity, where a gentle approach is required. Sap flow measurements on their own or in tandem with soil moisture monitoring play a leading role in studying root function and hydraulic redistribution of flow in the soil. The water absorption function of roots can be studied by measuring sap flow on individual root branches directly (as on crown branches) and also indirectly, by measuring the radial pattern of sap flow in different sapwood depths at the base of a stem. Root zone architecture can also be estimated indirectly by studying its functionality. The heat field deformation method with multi-point sensors has been found to be very convenient for this purpose. A combination of several such methods is recommended whenever possible, in order to obtain detailed information about the root systems of trees.

Key words: Air-spade excavation, electric conductance, ground-penetrating radar, radial flow pattern, sap flow.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ANN BOT (LOND)Home page
J. S. Pate and W. H. Verboom
Contemporary biogenic formation of clay pavements by eucalypts: further support for the phytotarium concept
Ann. Bot., March 1, 2009; 103(5): 673 - 685.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.