Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 117613 |
| Journal | GEODERMA |
| Volume | 464 |
| Early online date | 19 Nov 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2025 |
Abstract
As roots grow into soils, particles are displaced causing a process of soil restructuring in the vicinity of the roots. To date, a systematic approach to the investigation of factors influencing deformation patterns, including displacement and strain, has not been conducted. To achieve this objective, a soil column experiment was performed within a growth chamber, designed to compare the impact of two factors – substrate and maize (Zea mays L.) genotype – on the observed patterns. X-ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) scans obtained prior to the initiation of root growth provided a reference state, while the deformed state was examined after a period of six days. Digital volume correlation (DVC) was applied with DaVis (LaVision, Göttingen, Germany) and resulting values were localized in relation to the root. In sand, the ratio of root volume to soil volume was higher, and diameters of tap roots and seminal roots were larger than in loam. The extent and the magnitude of radial displacement (displacerad) around roots were more pronounced in the sand, and a wider strain zone was found around tap roots in this substrate. In loam, the roots with a larger diameter (>0.8 mm) cause more deformation, whereas in sand diameter class had less impact on the amount of deformation. The genotype with root hairs was associated with a larger extent of soil deformation around the root. As high displacement values throughout the samples overshadowed local particle movement, strain has been shown to be a more reliable measure for depicting deformation patterns around roots.
Keywords
- Deformation, Digital volume correlation, Plant roots, Soil structure, Strain, X-ray CT
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Soil Science
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In: GEODERMA, Vol. 464, 117613, 12.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Deformation patterns around growing roots using X-ray CT and digital volume correlation
AU - Rosskopf, Ulla
AU - Uteau, Daniel
AU - Peth, Stephan
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - As roots grow into soils, particles are displaced causing a process of soil restructuring in the vicinity of the roots. To date, a systematic approach to the investigation of factors influencing deformation patterns, including displacement and strain, has not been conducted. To achieve this objective, a soil column experiment was performed within a growth chamber, designed to compare the impact of two factors – substrate and maize (Zea mays L.) genotype – on the observed patterns. X-ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) scans obtained prior to the initiation of root growth provided a reference state, while the deformed state was examined after a period of six days. Digital volume correlation (DVC) was applied with DaVis (LaVision, Göttingen, Germany) and resulting values were localized in relation to the root. In sand, the ratio of root volume to soil volume was higher, and diameters of tap roots and seminal roots were larger than in loam. The extent and the magnitude of radial displacement (displacerad) around roots were more pronounced in the sand, and a wider strain zone was found around tap roots in this substrate. In loam, the roots with a larger diameter (>0.8 mm) cause more deformation, whereas in sand diameter class had less impact on the amount of deformation. The genotype with root hairs was associated with a larger extent of soil deformation around the root. As high displacement values throughout the samples overshadowed local particle movement, strain has been shown to be a more reliable measure for depicting deformation patterns around roots.
AB - As roots grow into soils, particles are displaced causing a process of soil restructuring in the vicinity of the roots. To date, a systematic approach to the investigation of factors influencing deformation patterns, including displacement and strain, has not been conducted. To achieve this objective, a soil column experiment was performed within a growth chamber, designed to compare the impact of two factors – substrate and maize (Zea mays L.) genotype – on the observed patterns. X-ray computer tomography (X-ray CT) scans obtained prior to the initiation of root growth provided a reference state, while the deformed state was examined after a period of six days. Digital volume correlation (DVC) was applied with DaVis (LaVision, Göttingen, Germany) and resulting values were localized in relation to the root. In sand, the ratio of root volume to soil volume was higher, and diameters of tap roots and seminal roots were larger than in loam. The extent and the magnitude of radial displacement (displacerad) around roots were more pronounced in the sand, and a wider strain zone was found around tap roots in this substrate. In loam, the roots with a larger diameter (>0.8 mm) cause more deformation, whereas in sand diameter class had less impact on the amount of deformation. The genotype with root hairs was associated with a larger extent of soil deformation around the root. As high displacement values throughout the samples overshadowed local particle movement, strain has been shown to be a more reliable measure for depicting deformation patterns around roots.
KW - Deformation
KW - Digital volume correlation
KW - Plant roots
KW - Soil structure
KW - Strain
KW - X-ray CT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105022194217&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117613
DO - 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117613
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105022194217
VL - 464
JO - GEODERMA
JF - GEODERMA
SN - 0016-7061
M1 - 117613
ER -