The Importance of a Grass Root System

Roots play many important roles in the life of plants. They absorb water and minerals from the soil, anchor the plant and store food.

There are two primary root systems found in grasses. They are: taproot and fibrous roots.

Length

The length of a grass root system is important to the growth of a plant and its ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. A healthy grass root system will grow four to eight inches deep, depending on the species and its environment.

Grass root systems are multi-axial and consist of numerous different root types derived from diverse developmental origins. These include primary roots, secondary or adventitious roots and lateral roots.

Thickness

Grass roots are the under-ground part of the plant that anchors it to the soil and take up water and nutrients. They are also important for improving soil structure and adding organic material to the soil.

During the growth of the root system, new cells are produced from a meristem located just behind the root cap. These cells then mature and form specialized tissues that absorb water and conduct nutrients to other parts of the grass plant.

These tissues include root hairs, which are tiny hair-like outgrowths that grow from the surface of the root into the surrounding soil. These hairs are the primary means of transporting water and nutrients from the soil into the root and into special conducting tissue that moves them to leaves and shoots.

Surface Area

A grass root system is an important part of the plant and soil ecosystem. It enables plants to take up water and nutrients, anchors them to the soil, helps prevent soil erosion, and conducts and stores water and minerals in the soil.

Grass plants have two main root systems: primary roots that develop during germination and adventitious roots that emerge from nodes in the crown and horizontal stems, known as rhizomes or stolons.

These roots are vital to a growing grass plant, but they also build up a significant amount of carbon in the soil and support other life forms that live underground. As they die off and decompose, they release their stored carbon into the soil food web. These microorganisms then use this organic material as energy, releasing nutrients in the process.

Water

Water is essential to the health of a grass root system. It soaks up vitamins and minerals from the soil’s subsoil, and transports them deep into the root.

The amount of water a root system takes up depends on several factors, including the number of roots and its depth of rooting. Cool-season turfgrasses typically have a rooting depth of 2 to 6 inches.

When surface moisture is depleted, roots begin to take up water deeper in the soil, using a strategy known as water banking (24).

In addition, plant roots build carbon in the soil and support other life forms. Soil microbes decompose dead plant roots, releasing nutrients and carbon into the soil.

Nutrients

The root system of a grass provides the plant with water and nutrients it needs to grow. It also helps the soil by absorbing and releasing carbon into the environment.

A well developed grass root system can increase the efficiency of nutrient uptake by as much as 100 percent in some situations. This can help extend the life of a lawn and lower fertilizer use.

The roots of grasses are complex and highly responsive to environmental cues. They perform diverse functions from anchoring the plant to the ground, to providing mechanical support to the stem, and to acquiring resources from the soil.