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#1
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corn - shallow root or tap?
I recall someone mentioning here that corn is shallow rooted. I was
just getting rid of some sprouts that were unnecessary. While the above ground was about 2' to 2.5" tall each had one large root that went down 6-7". I was actually surprised to see such a deep root in just 14 days after sowing seeds. Is that what is referred to a tap root, or does a tap root have some scientific definition that is based upon plant types. DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email) |
#2
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corn - shallow root or tap?
"DigitalVinyl" wrote in message
... I recall someone mentioning here that corn is shallow rooted. I was just getting rid of some sprouts that were unnecessary. While the above ground was about 2' to 2.5" tall each had one large root that went down 6-7". I was actually surprised to see such a deep root in just 14 days after sowing seeds. Corn is a fibrous-rooted plant in the grass family and, as such, does not have a tap root like the legumes and many other plants. You may be seeing the radicle which is a root that emerges from the seed as it sprouts. Corn is pretty susceptible to problems with lodging (fallen stalks), often without the help of insects or diseases, but because the root system may be weak, particularly with some hybrids. After harvest, I usually pull up the entire sweetcorn plant and shred it to use as mulch and never see a taproot. Similarly, in plowing stalks under in corfields, taproots have never been a factor. -Olin Is that what is referred to a tap root, or does a tap root have some scientific definition that is based upon plant types. DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email) |
#3
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corn - shallow root or tap?
"jc" wrote:
"DigitalVinyl" wrote in message .. . I recall someone mentioning here that corn is shallow rooted. I was just getting rid of some sprouts that were unnecessary. While the above ground was about 2' to 2.5" tall each had one large root that went down 6-7". I was actually surprised to see such a deep root in just 14 days after sowing seeds. Corn is a fibrous-rooted plant in the grass family and, as such, does not have a tap root like the legumes and many other plants. You may be seeing the radicle which is a root that emerges from the seed as it sprouts. It was, right out from the planted kernel. Just surprised at pulling a root 2-3x the height of the plant. All the other roots bushed out from that central root. Corn is pretty susceptible to problems with lodging (fallen stalks), often without the help of insects or diseases, but because the root system may be weak, particularly with some hybrids. After harvest, I usually pull up the entire sweetcorn plant and shred it to use as mulch and never see a taproot. Similarly, in plowing stalks under in corfields, taproots have never been a factor. -Olin Is that what is referred to a tap root, or does a tap root have some scientific definition that is based upon plant types. DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email) DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email) |
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