THE EXTENSION OF PLANT ROOTS INTO DRY SOIL

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Abstract
The extension of corn roots into dry soil was investigated in a replicated expt. The plants were grown for 30 days in tar-paraffin pots filled with moist soil and surrounded by air-dry soil containing radiophosphorus. Bouyoucos blocks were installed in the "dry" soil for the periodic determination of its moisture condition. The "dry" soil was confined over solutions theoretically giving relative atmospheric humidities of 50, 82, 99, and 100%. In all cases the corn roots penetrated the walls of the pots and extended into the "dry" soil. The moisture content of the soil increased, but values as high as the permanent wilting % were not obtained. Tests with a Geiger counter for the presence of radiophosphorus in the aerial portion of the plants gave no evidence of the absorption of nutrients from initially dry soil.

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