The Behaviour of the Root-system of Sugarcane at and after Harvest

The growth of sugarcane roots in soils of different textures was observed and measured behind the windows of the: Mount Edgecombe root laboratory, before, at, and after the harvest of the plant crop of two varieties at the end of July 1967. The growth of new shoots was also recorded after harvest. In addition, a tracer radioisotope 32P of sufficient activity, was applied in very small volume (50 microlitres) directly to the surface of old roots at various depths ranging from two to five feet (60-150 cm) below the surface. This was to test whether or not the old roots could taken in and translocate materials which might be of value to the new shoots. The results were as follows: