THE COMPARISON OF ROOT SYSTEM SIZE AMONGSELECTED POPULATIONS WITHIN MEDICAGO SATIVA COMPLEX

The goal of this study was to compare the root system size among selected population within Medicago sativa complex. The experimental plants consisted of natural populations of Medicago species, collected in various regions of Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. In spring 2006, forty plants from each population were transplanted to experimental field at a uniform space 40 x 40 cm in four replicates, ten plants in one replicate. In autumn 2008, the root size estimates based on electrical capacitance (RSS method) and root weight measurement in the layer 0–20 cm were realized by selected populations at five plants in two replicates. The results of measurement within M. sativa complex confirmed significantly lowest capacitance and total root weight in arable layer at M. falcata. M. sativa reached the highest capacitance but total root weight at layer 0–20 cm was significantly lower in comparison with M. varia. It is possible to conclude that M. varia populations produced higher amount of root biomass in the arable layer but had significantly lower root size than M. sativa in our experimental soil conditions