The roots are the beginning of the vascular system pipeline that moves water and minerals from the soil up to the leaves and fruits. Roots make up around one-fourth to one-third of the total dry weight of a plant. The total length of root tissues in a single rye plant is around 380 miles!
To function, roots must have adequate levels of soil oxygen. Soil compaction or waterlogged soil reduces soil oxygen levels, kills roots and lead to a shallow root system.