The document describes a lysimetric system that can measure plant water uptake at different growth stages to help explain interactions between yield components and harvest index. The system uses plastic cylinders of varying sizes to prevent soil evaporation and allow measurement of water uptake over long periods for a diverse set of crops, including groundnuts, chickpeas, wheat, rice and barley. It provides a simple way to screen large numbers of plants and assess root functionality to inform plant breeding programs.

1. A lysimetric system to unravel root functionality
Nov 2009
Roots
The system measures plant water uptake at key stages and can help explain how yield component interacts (eg, with HI).
Roots: An essential
component of adaptation for
dry land crops.
Past progresses at ICRISAT
Current shift in root research: Exploiting root functionality
Large throughput screening, applicable for plant breeding in many crops
Root scanning and
analysis to assess root
length density.
Simple lifting and weighing to measure water uptake.
Plastic beads prevent 90% soil evaporation.
Cylinder size and spacing gives canopy structure.
Conclusions
Tubes of 1.2 m length 20 cm diameter, applicable to high
density crops (groundnut, chickpea, wheat, rice and barley).
Tubes of 2.0 m length 25 cm diameter, applicable to low density crops
The system allows long term and robust assessment of
Large diversity in water extraction available in the germplasm.
The system allows measurement of water uptake, and