The role of plant species and soil condition in the structural development of the rhizosphere.

ABSTRACT: Roots naturally exert axial and radial pressures during growth, which alter the structural arrangement of soil at the root-soil interface. However, empirical models suggest soil densification, which can have negative impacts on water and nutrient uptake, occurs at the immediate root surface with decreasing distance from the root. Here, we spatially map structural gradients in the soil surrounding roots using non-invasive imaging, to ascertain the role of root growth in early stage formation of soil structure. X-ray computed tomography provided a means not only to visualize a root system in situ and in 3-D but also to assess the precise root-induced alterations to soil structure close to, and at selected distances away from the root-soil interface. We spatially quantified the changes in soi

SUBMITTER: Helliwell JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6563464 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature