A More Efficient Paper Pouch System for Root Architecture Research

Based on the original paper pouch system, the author changed the method of phosphorus (P) supply, and studied the regulation of soybean root architecture by P spatial availability and its genotypic variations on specially designed paper pouch system. The results showed that: 1) Improved stratified-P treatment could represent the distribution of P in the agricultural soil, and more efficiently regulated root architecture changed. Stratified-P treatment, namely upper part was in high P conditions and lower part was in low P conditions, led to longer total root length, more root surface areas and increased the distribution of roots in upper high P part, root system became sallow, finally increased plant P uptake and biomass. 2) For the regulation of root architecture by stratified-P treatment, there was a significant genotypic difference between soybean genotypes with different P efficiency. P-efficient genotype, HN89，could respond to P spatial availability faster than P-inefficient genotype, HN112, and changed considerably on root architecture parameters, finally had higher P uptake and biomass.