Journal Article

An efficient three-dimensional rhizosphere modeling capability to study the effect of root system architecture on soil water and reactive transport

Yabusaki, Steven B., Ahkami, Amir H., Chen, Xingyuan, Scheibe, Timothy D., Fang, Yilin

2019

Overview

Aims The objective of this research was to develop a three-dimensional (3D) rhizosphere modeling capability for plant-soil interactions by integrating plant biophysics, water and ion uptake and release from individual roots, variably saturated flow, and multicomponent reactive transport in soil. Methods We combined open source software for simulating plant and soil interactions with parallel computing technology to address highly-resolved root system architecture (RSA) and coupled hydrobiogeochemical processes in soil. The new simulation capability was demonstrated on a model grass, Brachypodium distachyon . Results In our simulation, the availability of water and nutrients for root uptake is controlled by the interplay between 1) transpiration-driven cycles of water uptake, root zone saturation and desaturation; 2) hydraulic redistribution; 3) multicomponent competitive ion exchange; 4) buildup of ions not taken up during kinetic nutrient uptake; and 5) advection, dispersion, and diffusion of ions in the soil. The uptake of water and ions by individual roots leads to dynamic, local gradients in ion concentrations. Conclusion By integrating the processes that control the fluxes of water and nutrients in the rhizosphere, the modeling capability we developed will enable exploration of alternative RSAs and function to advance the understanding of the coupled hydro-biogeochemical processes within the rhizosphere.

• Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media,Springer International Publishing,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: advection / BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES / Biogeochemistry / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biophysics / Brachypodium distachyon / competitive ion exchange / Computer architecture / Computer simulation / computer software / Desaturation / Ecology / Fluxes / Geometry / grasses / Ion diffusion / Ion exchange / ion transport / Ions / Laboratories / Life Sciences / Modelling / Moisture content / multicomponent reactive transport / Nutrient uptake / Nutrients / Open source software / Plant Physiology / Plant Sciences / plant-soil interactions / Public domain / Public software / REGULAR ARTICLE / Rhizosphere / root system architecture / root systems / root water and nutrient uptake / Root zone / Roots / Saturated flow / Simulation / Soil moisture / Soil Science & Conservation / Soil sciences / Soil water / soil-plant interactions / Three dimensional models / Transpiration / Transport / Water / Water availability / Water uptake