Catchment and Eco-hydrology (CAT), Environmental Sensing and Modelling (ENVISION), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg
Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Catchment and Eco-hydrology (CAT), Environmental Sensing and Modelling (ENVISION), Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Belvaux, Luxembourg
Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
We investigated if and how roots of maize plants respond to multiple abrupt changes in soil moisture. We measured root lengths using a magnetic resonance imaging technique and calculated changes in growth rates after applying water pulses. The root growth rates increased in wetted soil layers within 48 hours and decreased in non-wetted layers, indicating fast adaptation of the root systems to moisture changes. Our findings could improve irrigation management and vegetation models.
We investigated if and how roots of maize plants respond to multiple abrupt changes in soil...