Use of Radiophosphorus and Soil-Block Techniques to Measure Root Development

Abstract

A radiophosphorus and soil-block technique of root study gave comparable results when studying root growth of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula). Roots of switchgrass penetrated 60 inches laterally from the culms while the sideoats grama root system was much less extensive. The primary advantage of the radioisotope technique of root study is that it allows seasonal root developmental data to be easily collected while soil-block observations are laborious and depict root expanse at only specific times.