When Roots Follow the Path of Least Resistance
August 18, 2009
Plant roots follow old root channels in hostile soils for access to water and nutrients. Science knows about the chemical composition of the soil that surrounds plant roots versus the soil matrix away from the roots. What is not known is how long these differences persist in a root channel after the old root decays. Using the Argonne Advanced Photon Source, researchers have unearthed information that can be used to better manage soils and crops in hostile environments, such as low-rainfall areas.