There are many below-ground constraints on crop growth that are of significant concern in commercial sugarcane production. These constraints are both abiotic and biotic, but response of the plant is determined directly and indirectly by the growth and function of the root system. Consequently, gaps in our knowledge and misconceptions about the sugarcane root system may be an impediment to development of improved strategies for overcoming below-ground constraints in sugarcane production. These strategies may relate, for example, to soil and crop management or cultivar selection.