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Root Growth and Diffusion Rates as Functions of Oxygen Concentration¹

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with two aspects of soil-oxygen-plant relationships: (1) the effect of O₂ concentration on O₂ diffusion rates, and (2) the O₂ diffusion rate in relation to root growth of established plants. The study was designed to minimize the effects of CO₂ on root growth during the experiment while studying the effects of oxygen supply and root growth.

An average O₂ concentration of 0.7% above the soil surface virtually stopped root growth while only a few new roots were initiated at the 2% level. Depth of rooting and the O₂ diffusion rate associated with this depth were proportional to the concentration of O₂ at the soil surface. Root initiation was reduced or stopped when oxygen diffusion rates in the soil were in the range of 18 to 23 x 10^-8 g. cm.^-2 min.^-1. Diffusion rates above 23 x 10^-8 g. cm.^-2 min.^-1 permitted relatively good root growth.

¹ Paper No. 1313, University of California Citrus Exp. Sta., Riverside. Presented before Div. I, Soil Science Society of America, Chicago, Ill., Dec. 5, 1960.

² Associate Irrigation Engineer, Assistant Soil Physicist, Laboratory Technician IV, and Associate Soil Scientist, respectively, Agricultural Experiment Station, University of California, Riverside and Los Angeles.

Received for publication January 3, 1961. Accepted for publication January 30, 1961.