Electrical capacitance estimates crop root traits best under dry conditions—a case study in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Huijie Gu; Liantao Liu; John Butnor; Hongyong Sun; Xiying Zhang; Cundong Li; Xiuwei Liu

doi:10.1007/s11104-021-05094-6

Treesearch

Electrical capacitance estimates crop root traits best under dry conditions—a case study in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Huijie Gu, Liantao Liu, John Butnor, Hongyong Sun, Xiying Zhang, Cundong Li, Xiuwei Liu

Year:

2021

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05094-6

Source:

Plant and Soil

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Abstract

Purpose Electrical capacitance (EC) is widely used to measure root traits especially in hydroponic and wet soil environments, but its feasibility was recently questioned due to the possible leakage of electrical current before entering the root system. To investigate whether the current can travel deeper in woody roots, EC was evaluated in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown under diferent soil moisture conditions (two rounds of pot experiments, one PVC tube experiment and one feld experiment).

Keywords

Electrical capacitance, Root biomass, Soil moisture, Root tissue density, Cotton

Citation

Gu, Huijie; Liu, Liantao; Butnor, John R.; Sun, Hongyong; Zhang, Xiying; Li, Cundong; Liu, Xiuwei. 2021. Electrical capacitance estimates crop root traits best under dry conditions—a case study in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Plant and Soil. 467(1-2): 549-567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-021-05094-6.