Deep roots and soil structure

• Published in: Plant, cell and environment Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 1662 - 1668
• Main Authors: Gao, W., Hodgkinson, L., Jin, K., Watts, C.W., Ashton, R.W., Shen, J., Ren, T., Dodd, I.C., Binley, A., Phillips, A.L., Hedden, P., Hawkesford, M. J., Whalley, W.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-08-2016; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Opinion; penetrometer resistance; Plant Roots - growth & development; Soil; penetrometer resistance
• ISSN: 0140-7791; 1365-3040
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.12684

In this opinion article we examine the relationship between penetrometer resistance and soil depth in the field. Assuming that root growth is inhibited at penetrometer resistances > 2.5 MPa, we conclude that in most circumstances the increases in penetrometer resistance with depth are sufficiently great to confine most deep roots to elongating in existing structural pores. We suggest that deep rooting is more likely related to the interaction between root architecture and soil structure than it is to the ability of a root to deform strong soil. Although the ability of roots to deform strong soil is an important trait, we propose it is more closely related to root exploration of surface layers than deep rooting.