Roots in the Biopore Sheath

The objective of this study is to quantify root growth and metabolic activity of roots in the biopore sheath. This zone of soil is of particular interest because it provides elevated nutrient concentrations and can be easily accessed by roots from the biopore lumen. Root growth and metabolic activity in the biopore sheath potentially depend on the level of soil moisture and the origin/colonization history of pores. Since previous investigations have shown that the relevance of biopores for root growth and nutrient acquisition largely depends on crop species, pore genesis and soil properties, root growth in the biopore sheath is quantified under various experimental conditions in field and in soil columns.