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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59528
Title: ROOT CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE FIELD-GROWN TALL FESCUE LINES

Author
item Shewmaker, Glenn
item Mayland, Henry
item Johnson, Douglas

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/14/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Himag tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was selected for higher shoot Mg concentration; however the physiological basis for high Mg is unknown. We hypothesized that Mg concentration is related to root characteristics. Leaf, crown, and root masses; leaf area, and root length and area were determined on 7.6 cm diameter cores of Himag and its parents, MO-96 and KY-31 in southern Idaho. Soil cores were extracted at 0 to 15 (R1), 15 to 30 (R2), and 30 to 45 (R3) depths and washed. Roots were stained and analyzed for length and area with a video camera and digitizing board. Mean root length was greater for KY-31 (46 m) than either MO-96 (38 m) or Himag (38 m). Mean root surface area of KY-31 (537 cm2) and MO-96 (462 cm2) did not differ but KY-31 had greater surface area (P<.05) than Himag (434 cm2). The mean dry root mass of KY- 31 (980 mu g) and MO-96 (831 mu g) did not differ but KY-31 had greater mass than Himag (792 mu g). Root length was greater in R1 (48 m) than R2 (39 m) or R3 (34 m). Root surface area was greatest in R1 (597 cm2), intermediate in R2 (462 m2) and least in R3 (374 cm2) at P=.05. Roots were finer at the lower depths. Varietal differences were observed for root length, surface area, and mass, but these physical differences do not explain the greater Mg accumulation in shoots of Himag.