Use of X-ray tomography for examining root architecture in soils
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Despite the critical importance of roots within soils for supporting plant growth, the assessment of root distribution in soils remains difficult and much is unknown regarding their behaviour. In this review, we examine X-ray computed tomography (CT) as a non-invasive method for examining root distribution in soils. X-ray CT enables three-dimensional reconstruction of soil cores to accurately estimate a wide range of features within the soil, including roots, not only examining changes spatially but also temporally. With the development of high-end X-ray CT systems and image processing algorithms, this approach can now be used to examine a range of factors, including root system architecture, soil-root interactions, soil pore architecture, soil biophysical interactions, and soil microorganism behaviour. In addition, we examine the use of synchrotron-based X-ray CT which has been used to provide better resolution, larger sample analysis, faster scanning, and images with greater contrast compared to conventional systems.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 115405 |
Journal | Geoderma |
Volume | 405 |
ISSN | 0016-7061 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:
We acknowledge funding from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Project UOQ1910–002RMX. We thank Kaara Klepper, Stephen Loss, Rowan Maddern (GRDC), and Nelly Raymond (UQ) for their assistance. This research was undertaken on the Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) at the Australian Synchrotron, part of ANSTO.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.
- Image segmentation, Root phenotype, Root system architecture (RSA), Synchrotron, X-ray computed tomography (CT)
Research areas
ID: 318526985