An Automated Apparatus for Measuring Root Length

Abstract

Abstract Root lengths of an adventitious root system (creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris Huds.) and a woody plant fiberous root system (Hetz juniper, Juniperus chinensis L. ‘Hetzii’) were estimated using an automated method employing a video camera and an area/length meter to count scanning line and root intersections. A grid method of root length estimation was used for comparison. Under- and overestimation was random when the automated method was used for creeping bentgrass samples (<80 cm) and the shorter group of juniper root samples (150-550 cm). However, these estimates were much closer to the actual root length, in the ranges evaluated, than the estimates from the grid method. The lengths of long juniper root samples (600-3000 cm) were underestimated consistently with the automated method. The magnitude of this underestimation increased with increasing length. However, the relationship between estimated and actual root length remained linear and was about 76% of the actual length. For the ranges of root length evaluated, this method was found to be useful for root length estimation.