A method of estimating the total length of root in a sample.

Published online
13 Jan 1967
Content type
Journal article
Journal title
Journal of Applied Ecology
DOI
10.2307/2401670

Author(s)
Newman, E. I.

Publication language
English

Abstract

In this technique the roots are laid out on a flat surface and a count is made of the number of intersections between the roots and random straight lines. Total root length is then π NA/2H, where N = number of intersections, A= area of the flat surface within which the roots lie and H= total length of the straight lines. Comparison of this method with 2 other techniques using flax, [meadow] fescue and other plants showed it to be much quicker than direct measurement and more precise for a given time-interval than measurement of a sub-sample and weighing.-R.B.

Key words