A method for extracting plant roots from soil which facilitates rapid sample processing without compromising measurement accuracy

Authors: Metcalfe, D. B.; Williams, M.; Aragão, L. E. O. C.; da Costa, A. C. L.; de Almeida, S. S.; Braga, A. P.; Gonçalves, P. H. L.; de Athaydes, J.; Junior, Silva; Malhi, Y.; Meir, P.

Source: New Phytologist, Volume 174, Number 3, May 2007 , pp. 697-703(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

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Abstract:

Summary

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This study evaluates a novel method for extracting roots from soil samples and applies it to estimate standing crop root mass (± confidence intervals) in an eastern Amazon rainforest.

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Roots were manually extracted from soil cores over a period of 40 min, which was split into 10 min time intervals. The pattern of cumulative extraction over time was used to predict root extraction beyond 40 min. A maximum-likelihood approach was used to calculate confidence intervals.

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The temporal prediction method added 21-32% to initial estimates of standing crop root mass. According to predictions, complete manual root extraction from 18 samples would have taken c. 239 h, compared with 12 h using the prediction method. Uncertainties (percentage difference between mean, and 10th and 90th percentiles) introduced by the prediction method were small (12-15%), compared with uncertainties caused by spatial variation in root mass (72-191%, for nine samples per plot surveyed).

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This method provides a way of increasing the number of root samples processed per unit time, without compromising measurement accuracy.

New Phytologist (2007) 174: 697-703

doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02032.x

Keywords: Amazon tropical rainforest; maximum-likelihood approach; methodological evaluation; root sampling method; standing crop root mass; temporal prediction method

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02032.x

Publication date: 2007-05-01