The Foundation of Agriculture is Root Mass

(Author: August Dunning | Article Views: 18 | Word Count: 514 | Published: Oct 5th 2007)

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Providing nutrient dense food for cattle and people finds its basis in the soil borne nutrients that roots can absorb to turn into these foods. Without healthy dense root mass and micro mineral laden soils to draw from, food may look good but is empty of nutrition. The two major functions of roots are 1.) absorption of water and inorganic nutrients and 2.) anchoring the plant body to the ground. The pattern of development of a root system is termed 'root architecture', and is important in providing a plant with a secure supply of nutrients and water as well as anchorage and support. Some plants have very deep root systems like prairie grasses that reach 7 feet above ground, but 15 feet below ground.

The majority of roots on most plants are found relatively close to the surface where nutrient availability and aeration are more favorable for growth. Rooting depth may be physically restricted by rock or compacted soil close below the surface, or by anaerobic soil conditions. the 'plastic' nature of root growth allows the plant to then concentrate its resources to seek out nutrients and water are they are more easily available Roots will generally grow in any direction where the correct environment of air, mineral nutrients and water exists to meet the plant's needs. But roots will not grow in dry soil. Primary roots less than 2 mm diameter have the function of water, mineral and nutrient uptake. They are often heavily branched.

Roots also function in cytokinin synthesis, which supplies some important shoot needs. Cytokinins are a class of plant growth substances (plant hormones) active in promoting cell division, and are also involved in cell growth, differentiation, and other physiological processes and are mainly created in the root. These many processes’ are reliant on macro nutrient and micro nutrient activation minerals to regulate biosysthesis of phytochemicals. For minerals to be immediately available to plant roots, particles have to be microscopic in size. Liquid minerals solutions like ASAP Plant Minerals provide these nutrients at the right size. As soil is stripped, the re introduction of these activation micro nutrient minerals is essential for continued nutritional content in plants used for agriculture. A perfect example of a loss of nutrient in grasses due to stripped-out micro minerals is the reduced milk output by dairy cattle fed hay and grass devoid of micro nutrient minerals. Eating more nutrient empty grass does not produce more milk because minerals that stimulate lactation are absent. Re-mineralizing our soils to offset the loss yearly by harvesting will solve this problem. Healthy roots, in micro mineral laden soils, produce healthy shoots.

In roots, the architecture of fine roots and coarse roots can both be described by variation in topology and distribution of biomass within and between roots. Having a balanced architecture allows fine roots to exploit soil efficiently around a plant, but the 'plastic' nature of root growth allows the plant to then concentrate its resources where nutrients and water are more easily available.

About the Author

August Dunning is the head Research Director at http://www.asaporganics.com

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