Details zur Publikation
Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.1007/s11104-008-9834-7
Volltext Shareable Link
Titel (primär) Neutron radiography as a tool for revealing root development in soil: capabilities and limitations
Autor Moradi, A.B.; Conesa, H.M.; Robinson, B.; Lehmann, E.; Kuehne, G.; Kaestner, A.; Oswald, S.E.; Schulin, R.
Quelle Plant and Soil
Erscheinungsjahr 2009
Department HDG
Band/Volume 318
Heft 1-2
Seite von 243
Seite bis 255
Sprache englisch
Keywords Neutron radiography; Neutron attenuation coefficient; Neutron scattering; Plant roots; Soil water content; X-ray radiography
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 (S) of various root-growth media for a range of water contents (?) 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 ? that gave a good contrast for root visualisation. After correction for neutron scattering, we obtained a linear correlation between S and soil ?. 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.
Moradi, A.B., Conesa, H.M., Robinson, B., Lehmann, E., Kuehne, G., Kaestner, A., Oswald, S.E., Schulin, R. (2009):
Neutron radiography as a tool for revealing root development in soil: capabilities and limitations
Plant Soil 318 (1-2), 243 - 255 10.1007/s11104-008-9834-7