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Evaluation of the size of a plant's root system using its electrical capacitance

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Summary

This paper extends an earlier one5. The relationship between electrical capacitance of a plant root system (C) and size (weight, volume, surface) of the root system (x) can be expressed by equation of the line

$$C = a + bx$$

ifa equals size of parasitic capacitance of measurement, i.e. capacitance of soil, wires,etc. andb equals regression coefficient influenced by type of soil plant species, measuring frequency and voltage,etc.

For practical purposes of size evaluation of root systems,e.g. in plant breeding, direct measured values of electrical capacitance (C) can be used when relative comparison is sufficient. For more precise experiments the values ofa and regression coefficientsb can be calculated. re]19760406

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  1. Plant Breeding Station, 664 43, Zelešice near Brno, Czechoslovakia

    Oldrich Chloupek

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  1. Oldrich Chloupek
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Chloupek, O. Evaluation of the size of a plant's root system using its electrical capacitance. Plant Soil 48, 525–532 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187258

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