ROOT MONITORING Archives - Page 2 of 4

Pulses and Effective Drought Response

Pulses are an important source of protein and vital for global nutritional security. Irregular and reduced rainfall, along with temperature rises due to climate change, are making food production more challenging. Since 80% of crops are rainfed, it is imperative that we understand how crops react to drought. Research into the internal physiological processes that… Continue reading…

Adapting Production to Drought

Many parts of the world face water shortage and drought. As a result, farms and orchards are losing their capacity to produce food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), drought cost the world 29 billion USD in 2018; therefore, it is imperative for governments, crop consultants, and farmers to be proactive. Technology is… Continue reading…

Digging Deep for New Irrigation Methods

Irrigation is essential to increase food production. However, competing needs and increasing drought makes water for irrigation scarce. Therefore, new methods and strategies are continuously being tested by scientists to improve food production, accompanied by better water use efficiency. This article will examine how modern field tools are helping in this venture. Irrigation Methods According… Continue reading…

Growth Regulators and Bio-stimulants Boost Plant Growth and Yield

We are currently faced with the task of increasing food production for a growing population with little additional land. Agriculture already uses 37% of land area and converting more forests to farms can further exacerbate environmental problems, so strategies, such as the use of bio-stimulants and plant growth regulators, could be a possible solution to… Continue reading…

Measuring Soil Carbon Flux

The carbon fluxes of many terrestrial ecosystems are well known. However, below-ground carbon’s contribution to the carbon cycle of different ecosystems has yet to be defined and quantified for forest soils. Since most of the carbon fluxes are occurring out of sight and underground, research on this topic is particularly challenging. Scientists are relying on… Continue reading…

WEBINAR THIS THURSDAY- Back to Our Roots: A look at what’s happening in root research now and into the future!

During this time of social distancing, let’s come together (virtually) to talk about root research! Special guest researcher Dr. Lorenzo Rossi of the University of Florida, along with our application scientist, Galen George, review real life situations where root research has been used and will discuss where it’s headed in the future. Here is some… Continue reading…

In the Field with Dani Degenhardt from the Canadian Forest Service

Recently, our Staff Scientist, Eric Munoz-Garcia, sat down with Dani Degenhardt who is a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, which is part of the Department of Natural Resources, Canada. She has a background in soil science, so she completed her master’s and her PhD in Soil Chemistry in the Department of Soil Science… Continue reading…

The Dirt on Soil Carbon Formation During Afforestation

Soil carbon is the second-largest carbon sink in the world, and it is currently in focus during these times of accelerating climate change brought about by human activities. Very little is known on the patterns of carbon accumulation in the soil. Thus, it is essential to determine the mode and quantity of carbon being sequestered… Continue reading…

Root Analysis in the Field: Industries & Uses

Crops, Nutrients, Irrigation & Root Analysis Analysis of the root system is important in ensuring sustainable crop production, reducing nutrient input and irrigation, and protecting soil carbon pools. Getting rapid and frequent images of what is happening underground can help people make timely decisions about agricultural practices to maintain plant health and ensure the judicious… Continue reading…

How the University of Florida Uses 200 Root Tube Installations with the CI-602 Root Imager

The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Plant Root Biology Laboratory led by Dr. Lorenzo Rossi is located at the Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Situated in the heart of the premiere grapefruit growing region of the world, the lab primarily uses the CI-602… Continue reading…