Collaborative Research: Root Induced Changes of Soil Physical Properties Using Synchrotron X-ray Microtomography (CMT) and Micromechanical Simulations

合作研究：利用同步加速器 X 射线显微断层扫描 (CMT) 和微机械模拟根系引起的土壤物理性质变化

• 批准号: 0816726
• 负责人: Scott Tyler
• 金额: $ 10.91万
• 依托单位: Board of Regents, NSHE, obo University of Nevada, Reno
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0816726&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Root; Induced; Changes

The rhizosphere, the zone of soil immediately surrounding plant roots, plays a prominent role in supplying plants with water and nutrients. However, surprisingly little is known about rhizosphere physical properties and how they affect root growth, water and nutrient uptake. The lack of non-invasive and non-destructive imaging techniques necessary to observe living roots growing in undisturbed soil have been a main reason for this shortcoming. Recent advances in synchrotron X-ray microtomography, or CMT, provide the potential to directly observe soil physical properties around living roots in-situ. The goal of this research is to quantify rhizosphere physical properties by (1) employing CMT to visualize physical root-soil structure interactions, (2) using computer models to simulate root-induced structural alterations to the rhizosphere using micro-mechanical approaches, and (3) estimating changes in rhizosphere hydraulic properties, such as water retention and hydraulic conductivity, based on CMT imaging and inverse modeling.This research seeks to provide transformative insights into the role of rhizosphere physical properties for water and nutrient uptake by living plants. It serves as a stepping stone for better understanding the role of plants in the critical zone at the soil-atmosphere interface. The project cuts across disciplinary boundaries of biology, soil physics, and soil mechanics to offer new insights on surface runoff, soil compaction and erosion, losses to agricultural productivity, land reclamation, and principles of soil-plant interactions. Doctoral students and a post-Doctoral associate will be trained through this project.

根茎是植物根部立即围绕植物根部的土壤区域，在为植物提供水和养分中起着重要作用。然而，令人惊讶的是，关于根际物理特性以及它们如何影响根生长，水和养分吸收的知识知之甚少。 缺乏观察在不受干扰的土壤中生存的根源所需的非侵入性和非破坏性成像技术一直是这种缺点的主要原因。 同步X射线显微镜图或CMT的最新进展为直接观察到原位生物根部周围的土壤物理特性提供了潜力。 The goal of this research is to quantify rhizosphere physical properties by (1) employing CMT to visualize physical root-soil structure interactions, (2) using computer models to simulate root-induced structural alterations to the rhizosphere using micro-mechanical approaches, and (3) estimating changes in rhizosphere hydraulic properties, such as water retention and hydraulic conductivity, based on CMT imaging and inverse modeling.This research试图提供对根际物理特性在生物植物吸收水和营养摄入的作用的变革性见解。 它是一种垫脚石，可以更好地理解植物在土壤 - 大气界面处的临界区域的作用。 该项目跨越了生物学，土壤物理学和土壤力学的学科边界，以提供有关地表径流，土壤压实和侵蚀的新见解，对农业生产力的损失，土地填海和土壤植物相互作用的原理。博士生和博士后助理将通过该项目进行培训。