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A Porous Membrane-Root Culture Technique for Growing Plants Under Controlled Soil Conditions¹

ABSTRACT

A real need exists to evaluate the effect of unfavorable soil conditions on plant growth in the field. This study evaluated a porous membrane-root culture technique as a method for measuring root and shoot growth under field conditions. Usefulness of the technique was tested by measuring the growth of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] in the porous membrane at six stages of growth. The growth of these plants was compared to control plants grown under conditions of high plant population. The growth of plants in membranes was excellent; plants reached a maximum height of 1.04 m and a root extension of 2.3 m. Nodulation occurred throughout the length of the root system. In contrast to the control plants, the nutrient content of leaves and root of membrane-grown plants remained high until the R8 growth stage. They produced an average of 846 seed pods per plant as compared to 84 to 440 pods per plant on a spacing of 16 plants/m or 3 plants/m, respectively. The technique can be used to evaluate the effects of physical, chemical, or biological conditions in the soil that cause physiological stress on the growth of the root or shoot portions of the plant. The effects of unfavorable soil conditions such as acidity, compaction, soil moisture, and nitrogen fixation can be evaluated. The effect of chemical growth regulants and a host of the aboveground environmental conditions which affect the interrelationships between shoot and root growth can be measured at any physiological stage of maturity.

¹ Published with the approval of Director of the Arkansas Agric. Exp. Stn., Fayetteville. Use of a trade name does not imply endorsement or guarantee of that product nor the exclusion of other products of similar nature.

² Professor and Graduate Assistant, respectively, Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.

Received for publication July 21, 1983. Accepted for publication November 30, 1983.