Authors
Magdalena Landl, Andrea Schnepf, Daniel Uteau, Stephan Peth, Miriam Athmann, Timo Kautz, Ute Perkons, Harry Vereecken, Jan Vanderborght
Publication date
2019
Journal
Vadose Zone Journal
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
1-20
Publisher
The Soil Science Society of America, Inc.
Description
Core Ideas
- A 3D soil–root model was used to investigate root–biopore interactions.
- Known effects of biopores on root growth, i.e., increased root length and depth were reproduced.
- Despite reducing root–soil contact, biopores led to increased water uptake in dry periods.
- Biopores had a larger impact on water uptake for more compact and less conductive soils.
Roots are known to use biopores as preferential growth pathways to overcome hard soil layers and access subsoil water resources. This study evaluates root–biopore interactions at the root‐system scale under different soil physical and environmental conditions using a mechanistic simulation model and extensive experimental field data. In a field experiment, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown on silt loam with a large biopore density. X‐ray computed tomography scans of soil columns from the field site were used to provide a realistic biopore …
Scholar articles
M Landl, A Schnepf, D Uteau, S Peth, M Athmann… - Vadose Zone Journal, 2019