Articles
CI-600 Root Imager vs. Soil Core + Lab Root Scanning: Which Is Faster and More Reliable?
Root research is one of the trickiest aspects of plant science. The hidden half of plants—buried in soil, intertwined with microbes and moisture—holds key insights into nutrient uptake, stress tolerance, and overall plant health. For decades, scientists have relied on soil coring and lab scanning to study roots, but the process is time-consuming and inherently… Continue reading…
Additional reading
What Is Crop Coefficient and Is It Essential for Irrigation Efficiency?
To optimize irrigation without excessive water use, the actual water lost through crop evapotranspiration is replaced during watering. The crop coefficient provides information based on crop characteristics that can be used in models for indirect estimation of actual crop evapotranspiration. Crop coefficients are specific for crops, cultivars, regions, local climate, soil, and agricultural management practices.… Continue reading…
What Is Root System Architecture and Why Is It Vital for Growth?
The root system architecture (RSA) is dynamic and can change due to age, environmental conditions, and nutrient status within a species or plant. RSA plays a significant role in the underground basic plant functioning of anchorage and foraging for nutrients and water. RSA changes to respond to abiotic stresses in soil, like temperature, drought, salinity,… Continue reading…
How Do Organic Fertilizers and Photosynthetic Rate Work Together?
Most research findings show that organic fertilizers improve the crop’s photosynthetic rate. The improvement occurs through increased photosynthetic efficiency, increased leaf number and area, and enhanced leaf chlorophyll content. Organic fertilizers enhance the soil’s nutrient status to support better plant growth and health, which increases crop photosynthetic rate. In many cases, organic fertilizers were more… Continue reading…
What Are the Causes Behind Global Plant Transpiration Trends?
An increase in the rate of transpiration is observed over approximately 70% of the global land surface. The hike in transpiration over the past four decades is due to greener landscapes. The increase in greenery is attributed to a higher Leaf Area Index, driven by carbon fertilization and higher global temperatures. Lower stomatal conductance, due… Continue reading…
What is Root Architecture?
The root system architecture is defined using root morphological, topological, and geometric parameters. Two classification systems developed by Yen et al. (1987) and Fitter et al. (1991) are widely used. Several other classifications for root architecture also exist. Root system forms vary between and within species and are based on the plant’s soil conditions at… Continue reading…
How Do Stomatal Traits and Transpiration Efficiency Impact Crop Yield?
Stomatal traits must meet mesophyll demand for CO2, conserve water, and maintain optimum leaf temperatures for higher transpiration efficiency. The stomatal traits associated with transpiration efficiency include size, density, patterning, guard cells, and responsiveness to environmental factors. So far, no crop breeding effort using stomatal traits has been able to prevent water loss/ transpiration without… Continue reading…
