Journal
PLANT AND SOIL
Volume 318, Issue 1-2, Pages 243-255Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-008-9834-7
Keywords
Neutron radiography; Neutron attenuation coefficient; Neutron scattering; Plant roots; Soil water content; X-ray radiography
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Funding
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- Fundacion Seneca of Comunidad Autonoma de Murcia (Spain)
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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 (I ) pound of various root-growth media for a range of water contents (theta) in the presence and absence of plant roots with various rooting systems. Plants were grown in aluminium containers (170 x 150 x 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 theta that gave a good contrast for root visualisation. After correction for neutron scattering, we obtained a linear correlation between I pound and soil theta. 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.
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