Use of X-ray tomography for examining root architecture in soils

Despite the critical importance of roots within soils for supporting plant growth, the assessment of root distribution in soils remains difficult and much is unknown regarding their behaviour. In this review, we examine X-ray computed tomography (CT) as a non-invasive method for examining root distribution in soils. X-ray CT enables three-dimensional reconstruction of soil cores to accurately estimate a wide range of features within the soil, including roots, not only examining changes spatially but also temporally. With the development of high-end X-ray CT systems and image processing algorithms, this approach can now be used to examine a range of factors, including root system architecture, soil-root interactions, soil pore architecture, soil biophysical interactions, and soil microorganism behaviour. In addition, we examine the use of synchrotron-based X-ray CT which has been used to provide better resolution, larger sample analysis, faster scanning, and images with greater contrast compared to conventional systems.