Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
The research was undertaken to determine the effect of irrigation treatment on rooting patterns of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) over a two-year period. The experiment was conducted in.a clay loam soil at Las Cruces, New Mexico. Irrigation water was applied using a line source sprinkler system which provides a gradient of water application, and evapotranspiration (ET) was calculated from irrigation, rainfall and soil moisture data using the water balance method. Measurements were made at three locations on the gradient. Soil was sampled, using a soil tube of 7.8 cm inside diameter, in 15 cm increments to a depth in the soilprofile of 180 cm. Roots were then extracted using a saline water flotation method. Roots were extracted on six dates in 1981 and 1982. In 1981, irrigation treatment did not affect root mass. In 1982, however, fibrous root mass, total root mass (fibrous pius tap root mass), dry forage yield, and shoot/root ratio were all proportional to ET. Root fibrousness was not affected by irrigation treatment. Root mass was successively less with greater depth in the soil profile, and more than two-thirds of the fibrous roots and almost 80 % of all roots were found in the top 60 cm of the soil profile.
Citation
Lugg, D G.; Abdeul-Jabbar, A S.; and Sammis, T W., "Rooting Patterns of Alfalfa under Three Irrigation Treatments" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 17.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses3/17)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Rooting Patterns of Alfalfa under Three Irrigation Treatments
Kyoto Japan
The research was undertaken to determine the effect of irrigation treatment on rooting patterns of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) over a two-year period. The experiment was conducted in.a clay loam soil at Las Cruces, New Mexico. Irrigation water was applied using a line source sprinkler system which provides a gradient of water application, and evapotranspiration (ET) was calculated from irrigation, rainfall and soil moisture data using the water balance method. Measurements were made at three locations on the gradient. Soil was sampled, using a soil tube of 7.8 cm inside diameter, in 15 cm increments to a depth in the soilprofile of 180 cm. Roots were then extracted using a saline water flotation method. Roots were extracted on six dates in 1981 and 1982. In 1981, irrigation treatment did not affect root mass. In 1982, however, fibrous root mass, total root mass (fibrous pius tap root mass), dry forage yield, and shoot/root ratio were all proportional to ET. Root fibrousness was not affected by irrigation treatment. Root mass was successively less with greater depth in the soil profile, and more than two-thirds of the fibrous roots and almost 80 % of all roots were found in the top 60 cm of the soil profile.
