Integrating fine root diameter and watershed mapping to characterize rhizosphere hydrology

Jeffrey M. Warren; Keita F. DeCarlo; Hassina Bilheux; Jean Christophe Bilheux; Kelly Caylor

doi:10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100738

Integrating fine root diameter and watershed mapping to characterize rhizosphere hydrology

Jeffrey M. Warren, Keita F. DeCarlo, Hassina Bilheux, Jean Christophe Bilheux, Kelly Caylor

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Root morphology and soil hydraulic characteristics were integrated using watershed distance mapping to show water distribution and uptake across the plant-soil interface. Poplar (Populus deltoides, P. trichocarpa), maize (Zea mays), juniper (Juniperus virginiana), grape (Vitis rotundifolia) and maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings were grown in sand, after which root diameter and soil water dynamics were assessed via sequential neutron radiography. Three local soil regions (root-soil interface or edge, rhizosphere, bulk soil) were classified based on both radial distance from the root surface and diameter of the nearest root, from which changes in water content and distribution were characterized using digital image processing. Water content dynamics across the rhizosphere showed two different species-independent processes: a consistently elevated water content at the root-soil edge interface which increased with root diameter, and hysteresis as the rhizosphere transitioned to bulk soil (∼0.5 cm from the root), independent of root diameter. Water uptake per unit root surface area declined exponentially with root diameter, independent of species. Results highlight the species-independent hydrologic characteristics of the rhizosphere and the potential for evaluating them in a local spatially connected soil context. Avenues for improved integration of soil and root characteristics are discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	100738
Journal	Rhizosphere
Volume	27
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100738
State	Published - Sep 2023

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) Program and by Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. The SCGSR program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the DOE. ORISE is managed by ORAU under contract number DE-AC05-06OR23100 . Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the DOE under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. This research used resources at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL. This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE), Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) Program and by Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. The SCGSR program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the DOE. ORISE is managed by ORAU under contract number DE-AC05-06OR23100. Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the DOE under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725. This research used resources at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a DOE Office of Science User Facility operated by ORNL.

Keywords

Digital image processing
Neutron imaging
Root traits
Root water uptake
Soil hydrology

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10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100738

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title = "Integrating fine root diameter and watershed mapping to characterize rhizosphere hydrology",

abstract = "Root morphology and soil hydraulic characteristics were integrated using watershed distance mapping to show water distribution and uptake across the plant-soil interface. Poplar (Populus deltoides, P. trichocarpa), maize (Zea mays), juniper (Juniperus virginiana), grape (Vitis rotundifolia) and maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings were grown in sand, after which root diameter and soil water dynamics were assessed via sequential neutron radiography. Three local soil regions (root-soil interface or edge, rhizosphere, bulk soil) were classified based on both radial distance from the root surface and diameter of the nearest root, from which changes in water content and distribution were characterized using digital image processing. Water content dynamics across the rhizosphere showed two different species-independent processes: a consistently elevated water content at the root-soil edge interface which increased with root diameter, and hysteresis as the rhizosphere transitioned to bulk soil (∼0.5 cm from the root), independent of root diameter. Water uptake per unit root surface area declined exponentially with root diameter, independent of species. Results highlight the species-independent hydrologic characteristics of the rhizosphere and the potential for evaluating them in a local spatially connected soil context. Avenues for improved integration of soil and root characteristics are discussed.",

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author = "Warren, {Jeffrey M.} and DeCarlo, {Keita F.} and Hassina Bilheux and Bilheux, {Jean Christophe} and Kelly Caylor",

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doi = "10.1016/j.rhisph.2023.100738",

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AU - Bilheux, Jean Christophe

AU - Caylor, Kelly

PY - 2023/9

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N2 - Root morphology and soil hydraulic characteristics were integrated using watershed distance mapping to show water distribution and uptake across the plant-soil interface. Poplar (Populus deltoides, P. trichocarpa), maize (Zea mays), juniper (Juniperus virginiana), grape (Vitis rotundifolia) and maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings were grown in sand, after which root diameter and soil water dynamics were assessed via sequential neutron radiography. Three local soil regions (root-soil interface or edge, rhizosphere, bulk soil) were classified based on both radial distance from the root surface and diameter of the nearest root, from which changes in water content and distribution were characterized using digital image processing. Water content dynamics across the rhizosphere showed two different species-independent processes: a consistently elevated water content at the root-soil edge interface which increased with root diameter, and hysteresis as the rhizosphere transitioned to bulk soil (∼0.5 cm from the root), independent of root diameter. Water uptake per unit root surface area declined exponentially with root diameter, independent of species. Results highlight the species-independent hydrologic characteristics of the rhizosphere and the potential for evaluating them in a local spatially connected soil context. Avenues for improved integration of soil and root characteristics are discussed.

AB - Root morphology and soil hydraulic characteristics were integrated using watershed distance mapping to show water distribution and uptake across the plant-soil interface. Poplar (Populus deltoides, P. trichocarpa), maize (Zea mays), juniper (Juniperus virginiana), grape (Vitis rotundifolia) and maple (Acer saccharum) seedlings were grown in sand, after which root diameter and soil water dynamics were assessed via sequential neutron radiography. Three local soil regions (root-soil interface or edge, rhizosphere, bulk soil) were classified based on both radial distance from the root surface and diameter of the nearest root, from which changes in water content and distribution were characterized using digital image processing. Water content dynamics across the rhizosphere showed two different species-independent processes: a consistently elevated water content at the root-soil edge interface which increased with root diameter, and hysteresis as the rhizosphere transitioned to bulk soil (∼0.5 cm from the root), independent of root diameter. Water uptake per unit root surface area declined exponentially with root diameter, independent of species. Results highlight the species-independent hydrologic characteristics of the rhizosphere and the potential for evaluating them in a local spatially connected soil context. Avenues for improved integration of soil and root characteristics are discussed.

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Integrating fine root diameter and watershed mapping to characterize rhizosphere hydrology

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Keywords

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