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The Effect of Discrete Ped Density on Corn Root Penetration in a Planosol¹

ABSTRACT

Corn root penetration studies in an Illinois Planosol, Weir silt loam, indicate that large corn roots are confined to the larger spaces between peds but that many medium and small roots penetrate about one-half of the total discrete peds in the claypan B horizon directly under a corn hill. It appears that a discrete ped bulk density of about 1.80 g. per cc. is the threshold density above which peds are not penetrated by roots in this soil. The minimum intraped (within ped) porosity of peds penetrated by roots was about 33%. Mixing of the A and B horizons reduced the root restrictive effect of the A2 horizon.

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Agronomy, Illinois Agr. Exp. Sta., Urbana, in cooperation with the Dept. of Plant Industry, Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale. Based on a thesis submitted by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. degree. Published with the approval of the Director of the Ill. Agr. Exp. Sta.

² Formerly Graduate Assistant, Univ. of Illinois, now Graduate Assistant, Dept. of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ.; Associate Professor, in Pedology, Agronomy Dept., Illinois Agr. Exp. Sta.; and Associate Professor of Soil Fertility, Plant Industry Dept., Southern Illinois Univ., respectively.

Received for publication July 3, 1963. Accepted for publication February 26, 1964.