hello guys, im growing a young zelkova i wish to train as a bonsai one day in the future, it has this ugly root thing growing, should i be thinking of removing it while the tree is still young? if yes, can i tie a torniquet around the root then bury it, or around the base of the trunk?
thanks

Lee Beckett wrote: hello guys, im growing a young zelkova i wish to train as a bonsai one day in the future, it has this ugly root thing growing, should i be thinking of removing it while the tree is still young?

Probably the best plan, to avoid an ever fatter root - and more scars when you remove it.
I would try to airlayer it.

if yes, can i tie a torniquet around the root then bury it, or around the base of the trunk?
thanks

Yep, that's part of the technique of airlayering.

There are several pages about the subject, look for 'Airlayering Zelkova'

why do you think it's ugly?

Samantha wrote: why do you think it's ugly?

Because it is.

depending on the amount of growing you plant to do on the tree, you could alternatively spreak the roots, plant it deeper & ona flat surface. With proper pruning & training of the roots, in 3-5 years nothing will be visible; It will have merged. But this requires some insight in where you are going, and how much trimming of roots is possible. The aim is to induce growth on other spots, and greatly reduce the taproot, which is causing this upward twist.