Author
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Morris, Dolen |
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Tai, Peter |
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Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2004 Publication Date: 7/16/2004 Citation: Morris, D.R., Tai, P.Y. 2004. Root morphology and dry yields of sugarcane due to water table depth. Sugar J. 67(1) : 14. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Microorganisms decompose organic soils in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) resulting in decrease in soil depth amounting to 1.3 cm per yr. Raising water tables inhibits microbial populations, but often reduces sugarcane yields. An experiment was conducted to determine the interrelationships between shoot yield and root morphology due to water table depths. Twelve sugarcane genotypes were grown outside in 38 L plastic containers with water tables depths of 0, 15, and 30 (drain) cm. At harvest (10 months), sugarcane shoots and roots in the upper (0 to 15 cm) and lower (15 to 30 cm) horizons were harvested. Shoot dry matter was reduced with high water table, but root dry matter within each soil layer was not affected by water table depth. About 74% of the total root dry weight and length were confined to the upper soil horizon regardless of water table. A greater percentage of root lengths in the 2.5 to 4.5 mm root diameter class in the upper soil horizons and 0 to 1.0 mm root diameter class in the lower soil horizons were most related to shoot yield. Our data suggest that sugarcane tolerance of water tables less than 30 cm include increased root mass and length and reduced root diameter near the soil surface |
