New Grower root depth vs plant height

[Smokechoke]

Its a simple question really, but with a maybe not so simple answer but I look onnsearch engines and cant seem tomcome to a definitive conclusion....
Here it goes:
Is there a direct correlation between the depth of the root mass and the heigt of the plant? And if so is there. Link to width as well?

example- if the tap only goes 1 ft in depth to the soil is there a maximum height the plant can grow? ( given that the root mass isnt root bound by a bottom/side of a pot)

 

[Hazy]

Here you go, this might help answer your question http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18612661

 

[Magic]

Yes the deeper your roots can strech the bigger your plant will be. To my knowledge there is not definate formula to base off of, every strain is different and even the same stains have different phenos so to say forsure what you'll get would be kind of hard. Most people here use 3 or 5 gallon but I've seen people get over 3 foot plants in 1gal so again it verys with every plant.

 

[Magic]

Great link hazy!

 

[ImKillface]

Here you go, this might help answer your question http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18612661

Sweet. I found the complete paper on this, I didn't get a chance to read it yet.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/view/journals/dsp_journal_fulltext.cfm?nid=102&f=FP12049

 

[Hazy]

Sweet. I found the complete paper on this, I didn't get a chance to read it yet.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/view/journals/dsp_journal_fulltext.cfm?nid=102&f=FP12049

Great find IKF

 

[yodabuds]

I tried an experiment over on my HighRise thread testing that theory and the plant that should've had the longer tap root was actually shorter! Though I think the small diameter of the PVC pipe made it hard to water from top...

 

[ImKillface]

A meta-analysis of the effects of pot size on growth shows that on average a doubling of the pot size results in 43% more biomass. In most cases reduced growth in small pots will be caused by a reduction in net photosynthesis. It is the plant mass per unit rooting volume that is relevant rather than pot size per se.

From section 7

This analysis focussed on the effect of pot volume on plant growth. However, choosing a pot for an experiment not only includes choosing the right volume, but also the right shape. Although shape is less important than volume (McConnaughay et al. 1993), shallow and deep-rooting species may respond differently to the actual diameter and height of the pots, at equal pot volume (von Felten and Schmid 2008). Pot height is also an important factor in determining the free-draining water content of pots and thereby the water potential as well as the oxygen availability in the pots (Passioura 2006).

An alternative to standard plastic pots are containers that have ribbed inner sides and small air holes. Such containers promote self-pruning of roots close to the holes, which avoids root spiralling and promotes development of lateral roots (Rune 2003). Not only shape, but also the material (Bunt and Kulwiec 1970) and the colour of the pot (Markham et al. 2011) may affect plant growth, mainly through their effect on soil and root temperature. For a broader discussion on the use of pots for growing plants in the context of experimental setup see Poorter et al. (2012a).