Growth and productivity of the agricultural crops root system depending on soil agrophysical characteristics

Abstract

Abstract. The results of model vegetation experiments on the study of the influence of soil agrophysical characteristics within the sowing layer, namely structural composition and bulk density, on the development of the root system of agricultural crops are presented. The purpose of the work is to study the influence of parameters of bulk density and structural composition of soil on the development of the root system of agricultural crops. Analytical, vegetative and mathematical-statistical methods of research have been applied. It has been proved that the agrophysical parameters of the soil significantly affect the development of the root system of agricultural crops. The tendency to deterioration of the condition and quality of the root system of the studied cultures has been established due to the increase in the size of structural aggregates in the seed layer of the soil, which led to a decrease in the productivity coefficient of the root system as a whole. It has been revealed that high level of compaction of the sub-seed layer of soil, compared to low and middle levels, leads to deterioration of root system of agricultural crops development. The linear dependence of the reduction of the length of the root system on increasing the level of soil compaction has been noted. There was a negative influence of both high and low levels of the sub-seed layer of soil on the diameter of the roots of crops, especially for wheat plants. Significant decrease in the diameter of the roots of corn and millet plants is established only for the compacted sub-seed layer of soil. The high level of compaction of the sub-seed layer of soil caused a decrease in the total volume of the root system of all crops, as well as the number and length of root hairs, which adversely affects the ability of plants to absorb nutrients and moisture from the soil.