Claim · model-written summary
The radial resistance to water absorption per unit root length is reasonably similar across a number of different species.
Verbatim
e0“white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)”
e6“the radial resistance to water absorption is reasonably similar, not only for an entire root system but also for a number of different species”
Title
Soil and plant resistances to water absorption by plant root systems
GJ Burch Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 1979. doi:10.1071/ar9790279
Other claims from this paper (10)
- Observation A large and almost constant plant resistance influenced the pattern of water absorption until soil resistance reached about 1.5 x 103 MPa s cm-3.
- Observation Soil resistance at that point corresponded to extraction of almost 80% of the available soil water.
- Observation Water absorption from progressively deeper soil layers showed no evidence of substantial resistance to water flux through the root xylem.
- Observation In wet soils, water movement into and through a root system is predominantly influenced by a large radial resistance through root tissues outside the xylem.
- Observation The radial resistance per unit root length for clover was 6.49 x 10^6 MPa s cm-2.
- Observation The radial resistance per unit root length for fescue was 6.54 x 10^6 MPa s cm-2.
- Observation Root contact resistance increased resistance to water absorption by about 48 x Rsr in fescue.
- Observation Root contact resistance increased resistance to water absorption by about 71 x Rsr in clover.
- Mechanism The difference in root contact resistance between clover and fescue was attributed to a contrast in root morphology.
- Mechanism Root contact resistance may be due to shrinkage of the soil or root with drying of the soil.