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- Title
Neutron radiography as a tool for revealing root development in soil: capabilities and limitations.
- Authors
Moradi, Ahmad B.; Conesa, Héctor M.; Robinson, Brett; Lehmann, Eberhard; Kuehne, Guido; Kaestner, Anders; Oswald, Sascha; Schulin, Rainer
- Abstract
Neutron Radiography (NR) is a valuable non-invasive tool to study in situ root development in soil. However, there is a lacuna of quantitative information on its capabilities and limitations. We combined neutron radiography with image analysis techniques to quantify the neutron absorption coefficients ( Σ) of various root-growth media for a range of water contents ( θ) in the presence and absence of plant roots with various rooting systems. Plants were grown in aluminium containers (170 × 150 × 12 mm) and were imaged using NR, as well as X-Ray radiography and an optical scanner. Sandy soil was the best medium for NR because it supported plant growth at θ that gave a good contrast for root visualisation. After correction for neutron scattering, we obtained a linear correlation between Σ and soil θ. The minimum detectable root thickness in neutron radiographs was found to be 0.2 mm in these containers. Combining NR with X-Ray radiography could provide information on soil structure in addition to revealing root structure and development.
- Subjects
NEUTRON radiography; ROOT development; SOIL moisture; SOIL absorption &; adsorption; SANDY soils; SOIL structure; PLANT growth; SOIL micromorphology; IMAGING systems
- Publication
Plant & Soil, 2009, Vol 318, Issue 1/2, p243
- ISSN
0032-079X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s11104-008-9834-7