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A quick method to determine root biomass distribution in diameter classes

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Abstract

Describing root biomass distribution in diameter classes is a fundamental way to understand the relation between a plant and its surrounding soil. Current methods used for its measurement are not well adapted to large root systems. A new quick method is proposed for the measurement of diameter distribution in large root systems. It is based on the one used in pedology to assess soil granulometry. Roots are dried, cut in a mixer and placed on a sieve column; biomass distribution according to root diameter is assessed by weighting the biomass recovered in each sieve. The validity of the method was tested by comparing the sieving method results with those obtained on dried root systems with a digital image analysing system. A sensitivity analysis showed that the optimal rotation speed of the mixer was 2,000 rpm and the optimal sieving time was 22 min. The actual diameter distribution of artificial root mixtures of known root diameter distribution was closely correlated with the root biomass distribution measured by the sieving method (r 2 = 0.87). Its application to four identical root systems resulted in values of biomass per diameter class with small standard errors. It is the first method allowing directly to measure biomass (and not length) distribution in diameter classes. It is quick, cheap and does not require root system sub-sampling; consequently, large root systems which were almost never studied can now be analysed. This method is thus adequate for repeated measurements of root diameter distribution in agronomical or ecological research.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jocelyne Roman, Alain Blanchard and Jeremy Devaux for technical assistance and Aram Marks for help in writing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d’Ecophysiologie Moléculaire, Université Paris 12, UMR 137, 61, avenue du Général De Gaulle, 94010, Créteil cedex, France

    M. Blouin

  2. Laboratoire d’Ecologie des Sols Tropicaux, IRD, UMR 137, 93143, Bondy, France

    S. Barot

  3. Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS, UMR 5175, 34293, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    C. Roumet

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  1. M. Blouin
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  2. S. Barot
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  3. C. Roumet
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Correspondence to M. Blouin.

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Blouin, M., Barot, S. & Roumet, C. A quick method to determine root biomass distribution in diameter classes. Plant Soil 290, 371–381 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-006-9169-1

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