Dear Monique,

Although it seems a simple question that has a straight answer, measuring root biomass (accurately) in plants is one of the most time consuming and difficult activity in agricultural and ecological research, especially if it is a field study.

You have not mentioned what type of plants you are working with. Methodology varies depending on the plant community you are working with (grassland, forest ecosystem or an agricultural crop). Here is a Canadian University Lab Note that provides some useful descriptions on the method for a grassland ecosystem and a forest ecosystem. Hope this is helpful.

Susantha.

Thank you so much for your response. First, let me address your questions about my situation. I am trying to measure the roots of blueberry plants that I propagated a couple years ago so they are still small. So, they are not from a field sample and have lived their whole lives in pots! I'm interested in methods for drying and if this would be more or less accurate than the general consensus which is what you were suggesting, this is one of the most time consuming and difficult activities. Thanks again!!! 

Dear Monique,

Since your blueberry plants are in pots it is very easy to determine the complete root biomass.  Cut the top part of the plant (above ground biomass) at soil surface in the pot.  Soak the pot (with the root system) in a container filled with water for about 30 minutes.  Once the soil is well soaked, break it and wash the excess soil on a 1.4 mm sieve.  Once all soil particles are washed from the roots, drain the excess water from roots.  Place the root system in a paper bag and dry in an oven at 60 oC for 24-48 hours.  After drying you can determine the dry weight of the root biomass.

This will not take much time as you would do for samples collected from fields.

Susantha.

Hey Monique,

the methodology described above is indeed accurate. you might have to adapt it (size of the sieve, drying temp (i usually use 45 C for 72h)) but it should eventually work well for your plants. with the first samples, you could just monitor the "dry" weight over time to determine an accurate drying periods.

Also, if you wish to store your root material fore drying, you could put it in 20% Ethanol at 4C. it would allow you to take extra measurements (length, branching,...) prior the dry weight.

cheers,

Ivan

Susantha and Ivan,

Thank you!

Monique

Hey Monique,

Measurement of root biomass (Materials and Methods This article

Benomar, L., DesRochers, A., & Larocque, G. R. (2013). Comparing growth and fine root distribution in monocultures and mixed plantations of hybrid poplar and spruce. Journal of Forestry Research, 24(2), 247-254.

( use 72 °C for 72 h)

Root System Analyser:

Software to measure root length and diameter:

Software name:

ImageTool

The software supports Windows 32-bit

thanks to all for providing informative information about root morphology.

Hello friends,

 Thanks for your valuable information as i to had a query of same sort.  If any one could share information about determining  root parameters in trees?

That would make our discussion more interesting!

Thank you

Have a good day

Dear Monique Rivera,

Look the links. May be useful.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014753/

http://www.metla.fi/ohjelma/hms/kokous2004/2-helmisaari-hms2004.pdf

Regards, Shafagat

Dear Monique,

Please check the following.

Regards

SM Najim

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11104-006-9169-1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014753/pdf/main.pdf

https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/jrm/article/viewFile/7185/6797

I agree with Susantha Jayasundara about how measure root biomass

Good luck

Dear

Find some sources in following papers:

https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/30180000/MorganPDF/Morgan198RootbiomassofindividualspeciesandrootsizecharacteristicsafterfiveyearsofCO2enrichmentonnativeshortgrasssteppePlantandSoil.pdf

https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/jrm/article/viewFile/7185/6797

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/login.jsp?url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fiel5%2F36%2F4358825%2F06392930.pdf&authDecision=-203

http://www.academia.edu/2525597/Root_biomass_root_shoot_ratio_and_belowground_carbon_stocks_in_the_open_savannahs_of_Roraima_Brazilian_Amazonia

Simplistic, I know. wash roots gently with water. Weigh them. Put subample in muffle furnace.  Get ash content and subtract from dry weight.

Dear, also have a look at these important attachment.

UMR System, INRA Montpellier group works on root biomass but of trees of different systems, not the potted plants. Just thought to inform.

I think you have to wash (remove external substrates) and then determine the wet and dry weights. you can ash them and determine the mineral content even.

Hi all, If I also calculated the volume of grass roots (by water displacement method) for the first 15cm. To calculate the dry biomass, should I use that volume? or the volume of the core? Best!

Not Sci Biol, 2018, 10(1):68-78. DOI: 10.15835/nsb10110181

Above reference may become handy.