An instrument for estimating the total length of root in a sample.
Abstract
A new instrument for the estimation of the total length of a washed sample of roots is described. It utilizes a photoelectric method to count the number of intersections between the root sample and a set of parallel straight lines. An estimate of root length is obtained from the relationship, length = 1/2 pi DN, where D is the distance between the parallel lines and N is the total number of intersections. The results agree well with those of other methods and are obtained more quickly.