Anchorage Strength Testing of Roots for Resistance to Lodging

Solution

• Precision torque screwdriver integrated with AFTI display
• Interchangeable probe options for varied plant structures

Advantages

• A portable, miniature, and robust tool that can be used in field research.
• Enables reliable data capture directly at remote testing locations

Requirement

Increasing the yield and stability of crops is one of the priorities in contemporary agricultural studies. One case was the investigation of Teff (Eragrostis tef), a gluten-free, nutritious cereal, which was previously grown in Ethiopia and is now introduced to the European agricultural system. Teff has become relevant in the health food market, especially among celiac disease patients, as it is gluten-free.

Nevertheless, initial cultivation experiments in Europe produced mixed growth and yield and low yield. Researchers identified plant lodging—where crops bend or collapse under external forces—as a major contributing factor. Lodging not only reduces harvest efficiency but also affects grain quality. Understanding the root anchorage strength and structural balance of the plant became critical to addressing this challenge.

In order to examine the factors that lead to lodging, controlled field trials involving the stability of plants, resistance to roots, and distribution of mass in the plant structure were conducted.

Solution

A portable torque measurement system was placed in the field to test the in-situ analysis. The study involved evaluating intact plants alongside their primary shoots. Individual shoots were carefully separated, and the center of gravity for both whole plants and detached components was determined using a balancing method on a narrow cylindrical support. The distance between the balance point and the base was recorded to assess weight distribution.

The measurements of the torque in the turn of plants and shoots under the influence of different angles of inclination, that is, 0°, 3°, 45°, and 60°, were then made to estimate the gravitational moment on the plants and shoots. An adapted lodging measurement system had a high-resolution digital torque screwdriver that was able to record subtle torque changes with a high degree of sensitivity.

Portability of the instrument was a factor that made testing be conducted in the field without interfering with the accuracy of measurements.

Presto Stantest Testing Approach

Presto Stantest provides technologically advanced torque measurement systems that are used in laboratory usage and field applications. The systems are able to provide both strong construction and high sensitivity, which allows the accurate assessment of anchorage strength and mechanical stress resistance in biological samples.

The torque screwdriver, combined with an Advanced Force and Torque Indicator (AFTI), yields repeatable measurements within a broad range of measurements. This makes it very suitable, especially in agricultural research, where mobility and ease of use are very important due to its ergonomic and portable design.

Digital data capture is also available and thus records, stores, and analyzes results in an effective manner even under off-site circumstances.

Test Equipment

• Torque Screwdriver (TS 1.5 N.m)
• High-tech Force and Torque Measurer (AFTI)