Geophysicists at the University of Bonn have now visualized such processes for the first time using electrical impedance tomography.
The researchers have now published their results in the scientific journal Biogeosciences.
Plants imbibe the vital cocktail of water and mineral nutrients through their roots.
This twisting organ not only provides purchase in the soil — the fine root hairs actually grow actively into soil zones where the fount of nutrients bubbles particularly richly.
The mineral substances in the soil are usually present in the form of electrically charged ions.
"The ions influence the electrical properties of the roots, which enables us to visualize the uptake of nutrients by roots in a new way," says Prof. Dr. Andreas Kemna, geophysicist at the University of Bonn.
His team has now developed a new method: The scientists "x-ray" the root systems of the plants using electrical impedance tomography, which is also used as an imaging technique in medicine.
"Unlike doctors, however, we not only measure electrical conductivity, but also electrical polarizability, which is influenced by the uptake of nutrients at the plant root," explains Prof. Kemna.
"Researchers image roots in the ground: Geophysicists use new method to visualize the activity of root systems."
"Researchers image roots in the ground: Geophysicists use new method to visualize the activity of root systems."