Effect of Soil Temperature, Strength, and pH on Cotton Seedling Root Elongation¹

Abstract

Abstract Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum ‘Empire’) seedlings were grown in glass‐fronted boxes in a growth chamber with varying soil temperature, pH, and compaction levels. Root elongation rate increased rather gradually as temperature increased, reaching a maximum at 32 C, then falling sharply as temperature was increased further. The effect of temperature was amplified at low levels of soil strength and at high pH. Temperature interacted with both strength and acidity on root elongation rate, but the effects of soil strength and acidity on roots were exerted independently.