Feature Story
X-RAY VISION? A New Approach to Studying Turfgrass Root Growth
By Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. & Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., University of Tennessee Dan McDonald, Phenotype Screening Corporation
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oot growth is of interest to many in the turfgrass industry. Golf course superintendents, sports field managers, and lawn care professionals all aim for healthy, high quality turfgrass with a robust root system and for good reason: roots not only allow turfgrasses to access moisture and nutrients from the soil, they also prevent erosion and confer surface stability. On a sports field surface stability leads to better footing for athletes and on a golf course it can lead to better traction and fewer divots. However, studying ways to improve turfgrass root growth has proven difficult. Often root growth is studied using core samples extracted using a golf course cup cutter or similar device. Root length is commonly measured using core samples and, in some cases, showcased on social media (Figure 1). In some instances core samples are used to quantify root mass. The process of quantifying root mass involves: 1) washing the core to remove as much debris as possible; 2) drying the core and recording the weight; 3) placing the dry core in a furnace to remove all organic material; 4) weighing the resultant mineral material.
FIGURE 1: Image of a core sample shared on social media to highlight turfgrass root growth. Source: twitter.com/JasonChennault
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