Plasticity of rhizosphere hydraulic properties as a key for efficient utilization of scarce resources

• Published in: Annals of botany Vol. 112; no. 2; pp. 277 - 290
• Main Authors: Carminati, Andrea, Vetterlein, Doris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Acid soils; Air; analysis; biodegradation; Biological Transport; chemistry; drought tolerance; drying; Hydraulics; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; hydrophobicity; metabolism; Moisture content; Plant Mucilage; Plant Mucilage - chemistry; Plant Mucilage - metabolism; Plant Roots; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Roots - metabolism; plant-water relations; Plants; Plants - chemistry; Plants - metabolism; Rhizosphere; root growth; root systems; roots; Sandy soils; Soil; Soil - chemistry; soil compaction; Soil hydraulic properties; soil quality; soil types; Soil water; soil-plant interactions; VIEWPOINT; Water; Water - analysis; Water - metabolism; water holding capacity; Water uptake; Rhizosphere; root–soil contact; mucilage; hydraulic properties; gaps; root water uptake

BackgroundIt is known that the soil near roots, the so-called rhizosphere, has physical and chemical properties different from those of the bulk soil. Rhizosphere properties are the result of several processes: root and soil shrinking/swelling during drying/wetting cycles, soil compaction by root gr...