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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Multipronged Phenotyping Approaches to Characterize Sugarcane Root Systems

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Published on: August 17, 2022

Digging Deeper for Agricultural Resources, the Value of Deep Rooting.

Kristian Thorup-Kristensen¹, Niels Halberg², Mette Nicolaisen¹

¹Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.

Trends in Plant Science

|January 23, 2020

Summary

Extending crop root depth enhances soil resource use for sustainable agriculture. Research priorities are needed to fully realize the potential of deeper rooting in crop production.

Keywords:

carbon sequestration deep nutrient uptake deep rooting subsoil water uptake sustainable intensification

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Area of Science:

Agricultural Science
Agronomy
Plant Physiology

Background:

Sustainable intensification of crop production is crucial for global food security.
Current crop production often relies on shallow root systems, limiting soil resource exploitation.
Deeper rooting offers a strategy to increase the volume of soil exploited by crops.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the contributions of deeper rooting to sustainable intensification of crop production.
To identify causes for limited research in deep rooting of crops.
To outline research priorities for advancing deep rooting in agriculture.

Main Methods:

Literature review and synthesis of existing research on crop root depth.
Analysis of evidence for achieving deeper rooting through species selection, breeding, and management.
Evaluation of potential impacts on production and sustainable development.

Main Results:

Deeper rooting can be achieved through strategic crop species selection, plant breeding, and crop management practices.
Significant potential exists for deeper rooting to contribute to production and sustainable development goals.
Research into deep rooting of crops remains limited, hindering its widespread adoption.

Conclusions:

Extending crop root depth is a viable strategy for sustainable intensification.
Further research is essential to overcome knowledge gaps and unlock the full potential of deep-rooting crops.
Prioritizing research in deep rooting will support enhanced crop productivity and sustainability.