Cotton root growth as influenced by phosphorus nutrition and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizas

SUMMARY Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., was grown in the greenhouse in sand‐nutrient culture at five phosphorus (P) concentrations, and root systems were examined after 10 and 20 days. Extension rates of primary laterals and numbers of secondary laterals increased with increasing P. Cotton was grown for 6 weeks in environment cabinets in soils of three P concentrations with and without mycorrhizas. Increased P and mycorrhizas both stimulated plant growth (f. wt shoot d. wt), but however specific root length (cm root g' root f. wt) of mycorrhizal plants was reduced.