A novel technique for rapidly separating willow roots from clay soil
dc.contributor.author | Hangs, R.D. | |
dc.contributor.author | Schoenau, J.J. | |
dc.contributor.author | Van Rees, K.C.J. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2018-07-24T01:42:30Z | |
dc.date.available | 2018-07-24T01:42:30Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2012-03-13 | |
dc.description.abstract | Numerous studies have examined the root dynamics of willow biomass energy crops growing on medium to coarse-textured soils, using either soil coring, minirhizotron techniques, or a combination thereof. However, neither approach is well suited for studying roots in soil of high clay content. Our objective was to test the efficacy of using a simple baking soda (NaHCO3) pre-treatment for facilitating the separation of willow roots from a Vertisol (70% clay). Soil cores were collected from within a willow variety trial plot of Tully Champion (Salix viminalis x S. miyabeana) and were either conventionally washed (i.e., no pre-treatment) or washed following a pre-treatment consisting of shaking the sample for 15 min with either deionized water or 1.2M NaHCO3. Measurement variables included washing duration, water usage, and recovery of fine (< 2 mm) and coarse roots. The ranking of washing duration and water usage was 1.2M NaHCO3 pre-treatment < deionized water pre-treatment < conventional washing. Compared to conventional washing, the 1.2M NaHCO3 pre-treatment reduced the washing duration and water usage by 45 and 61%, respectively, while increasing the fine-root recovery by 29%. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in coarse root recovery among the three washing methods. Developing a quicker technique of separating willow roots from high clay content soils hould promote further investigations of root growth dynamics within this traditionally difficult soil type. | en_US |
dc.description.version | Non-Peer Reviewed | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10388/9078 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.relation.ispartof | Soils and Crops Workshop | |
dc.rights | Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada | * |
dc.rights.uri | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/ | * |
dc.subject | baking soda | en_US |
dc.subject | Salix | en_US |
dc.subject | sodium bicarbonate | en_US |
dc.subject | soil core washing | en_US |
dc.subject | Vertisol | en_US |
dc.title | A novel technique for rapidly separating willow roots from clay soil | en_US |
dc.type | Poster Presentation | en_US |
Files
License bundle
1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
- Name:
- license.txt
- Size:
- 2.29 KB
- Format:
- Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
- Description: