Spatial heterogeneity of soil water around single roots: Use of CT-scanning to predict fungal growth in the rhizosphere

Abstract

Whole-body computed tomography X-ray scanning (X-ray CT) of wheat, cotton and radish growing in pots containing 350 g of a white sand relay mixture produced images from which digital data of the volumetric water content were obtained. The volumetric water contents were spatially heterogeneous around the root and altered with the depth at which the image was taken. Data represent a 'snapshot in time' of the soil around single roots in a living soil-plant system. The volumetric water contents of soil around seedlings were assessed for the growth of two soil-borne fungi, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici and Rhizoctonia solani. The heterogeneity of water content was biologically significant:..