In one of my experiments, I am assessing root biomass from soil cores, in which I have the root dry weight data, the core parameters, and the respective bulk density and soil moisture values. I am confused during the cumulative measurement of root weight per unit soil surface, from the dry weight of roots collected on the sieve combinations. For calculating the root density, it is straightforward (root dry weight/ soil volume), but I am unable to comprehend the term "per unit soil surface"? Am I missing something "obvious" term in the calculations?
As this is a trivial measurement, manuscripts tend to skip the details and directly report the results. To search for hints, I tried to look into older journals, where they divided the total dry weight with the area under consideration (attached the source). What area should I consider, surface area, or the crossectional area of the soil core, or something else for the root biomass calculations, and why?
Thank you, and have a great day!
Rounak
You have to use core soil sampling and based on area , easily we can calculate the root biomass per square meter...using cross sectional area of core sampler...
you can read: https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/jrm/article/viewFile/7185/6797
It may help.
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