Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Water Uptake by Plant Roots: II – Modelling of Water Transfer in the Soil Root-system with Explicit Account of Flow within the Root System – Comparison with Experiments

  • Rhizosphere - Perspectives and Challenges - A Tribute to Lorenz Hiltner
  • Published:
Plant and Soil Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Soil water uptake by plant roots results from the complex interplay between plant and soil which modulates and determines transport processes at a range of spatial and temporal scales: at small scales, uptake rates are determined by local soil and root hydraulic properties but, at the plant scale, local processes interact within the root system and are integrated through the hydraulic architecture of the root system and plant transpiration. However, because of the inherent complexity of the root system (both structural and functional), plant roots are commonly account for with synthetic but over-simplifying descriptors, valid at a given spatial scale. In this article, we present a model describing both soil and plant processes involved in water uptake at the scale of the whole root system with explicit account of individual roots. This is achieved through the unifying concepts of root system architecture and hydraulic continuity between the soil and plant. The model is based on a combination of architectural, root system hydraulic and soil water transfer modelling. The model can reproduce qualitatively and quantitatively laboratory experimental data obtained from imaging of water uptake by light transmission (cf. Garrigues et al., Water uptake by plant roots: I-Formation and propagation of a water extraction front in mature root systems as evidenced by 2D light transmission imaging. Plant and soil (2006, this issue) or X-ray imaging for two soil types (a sand/clay mix and a sandy clay loam) and different narrow-leaf lupin root systems (taprooted and fibrous), using independently measured soil–plant parameters. Results of the experiments and modelling reported in this paper concur to show that a water extraction front formed on the root system. This uptake front’s spatial extension and propagation were closely related to the local dependence between root and soil hydraulic properties and root axial conductance. Hence, a sharp front formed in the sand/clay mix but was much more attenuated in the sandy loam. Comparison between taprooted and fibrous root systems grown in a sand/clay mix, show that the taprooted architecture induced a more spatially concentrated uptake zone (near the soil surface) with higher flux rates, but with xylem water potential at the base of the root system twice as low than in the fibrous architecture. Modelling provided evidence that hydraulic lift might have occurred when transpiration declined, particularly in soil prone to abrupt variations in soil water potential (sand/clay mix). Finally, such a model, explicitly coupling root system-soil water transfers, can be useful to study water uptake in relation with root architectural traits, distribution of root hydraulic conductance or influence of heterogeneous conditions (localised irrigation, root clumping).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • S G Adiku C W Rose R D Braddock H Ozier-Lafontaine (2000) ArticleTitleOn the simulation of root water extraction: examination of a minimum energy hypothesis Soil Sci. 165 226–236 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXit1Klsbc%3D Occurrence Handle10.1097/00010694-200003000-00005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D M Alm J Cavelier P S Nobel (1992) ArticleTitleA finite-element model of radial and axial conductivities for individual roots: development and validation for two desert succulents Ann. Bot. 69 87–92

    Google Scholar 

  • M Amato J T Ritchie (2002) ArticleTitleSpatial distribution of roots and water uptake of Maize (Zea mays L.) as affected by soil structure Crop Sci. 42 773–780 Occurrence Handle10.2135/cropsci2002.0773

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arya L M 2002 Wind, hot air methods. In Methods of Soil Analysis – Part 4 – Physical Methods, Eds. J H Dane, G C Topp, SSSA book series no. 5: 916–925

  • N Brisson C Gary E Justes R Roche B Mary D Ripoche D Zimmer J Sierra P Bertuzzi P Burger F Bussiere Y M Cabidoche P Cellier P Debaeke J P Gaudillere C Henault F Maraux B Seguin H Sinoquet (2003) ArticleTitleAn overview of the crop model STICS Euro. J. Agron. 18 309–332 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00110-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M C Caldwell T E Dawson J H Richard (1998) ArticleTitleHydraulic lift: consequences of water efflux from roots of plants Oecologia 113 151–161 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004420050363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • V Clausnitzer J W Hopmans (1994) ArticleTitleSimultaneous modeling of transient 3-dimensional root-growth and soil–water flow Plant Soil 164 299–314 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXislams7o%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J C Clements P F White B J Buirchell (1993) ArticleTitleThe root morphology of Lupinus-Angustifolius in relation to other Lupinus species Aust. J. Agri. Res. 44 1367–1375 Occurrence Handle10.1071/AR9931367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B E Clothier S R Green (1997) ArticleTitleRoots: the big movers of water and chemical in soils Soil Sci. 162 534–543 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlvFKjsr4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1097/00010694-199708000-00002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J L Dardanelli J T Ritchie M Calmon J M Andriani D J Collino (2004) ArticleTitleAn empirical model for root water uptake Field Crops Res. 87 59–71 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.fcr.2003.09.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A J Diggle (1988) ArticleTitleROOTMAP: A model in three-dimensional coordinates of the growth and strcuture of fibrous root systems Plant Soil 105 169–178 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02376780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Doussan L Pages A Pierret (2003) ArticleTitleSoil exploration and resource acquisition by plant roots: an architectural and modelling point of view Agronomie 23 419–431 Occurrence Handle10.1051/agro:2003027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Doussan L Pages G Vercambre (1998a) ArticleTitleModelling of the␣hydraulic architecture of root systems: An integrated approach to water absorption – Model description Annl. Bot. 81 213–223 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.1997.0540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Doussan G Vercambre L Pages (1998b) ArticleTitleModelling of the␣hydraulic architecture of root systems: An integrated approach to water absorption – Distribution of axial and radial conductances in maize Annl. Bot. 81 225–232 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.1997.0541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Doussan G Vercambre L Pages (1999) ArticleTitleWater uptake by two contrasting root systems (maize, peach tree): results from a model of hydraulic architecture Agronomie 19 255–263

    Google Scholar 

  • V M Dunbabin A J Diggle Z Rengel R Hugten Particlevan (2002a) ArticleTitleModelling the interactions between water and nutrient uptake and root growth Plant Soil 239 19–38 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktVGhtbw%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1014939512104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • V M Dunbabin A J Diggle Z Rengel (2002b) ArticleTitleSimulation of field data by a basic three-dimensional model of interactive root growth Plant Soil 239 39–54 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktVGhtb0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1014952728942

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Frensch E Steudle (1989) ArticleTitleAxial and radial hydraulic resistance to roots of maize (Zea mays L.) Plant Physiol. 91 719–726 Occurrence Handle16667092 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cnhvFansQ%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W R Gardner (1960) ArticleTitleDynamic aspects of water availability to plants Soil Sci. 89 63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • E Garrigues (2002) Prélèvements hydriques par une architecture racinaire: imagerie quantitative et modélisation des transferts d’eau dans le système sol-plante Ph.D. Thesis INA–PG 143

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrigues E, Doussan C, Pierret A 2006 Water uptake by plant roots: I- Formation and propagation of a water extraction front in mature root systems as evidenced by 2D light tranzsmission imaging. Plant Soil 283, 83–98

    Google Scholar 

  • W N Herklerath N Miller W R Gardner (1977) ArticleTitleWater uptake by plant roots: 1. Divided root experiments Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 41 1033–1038 Occurrence Handle10.2136/sssaj1977.03615995004100060003x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M Homaee R A Feddes C Dirksen (2002) ArticleTitleA macroscopic water extraction model for nonuniform transient salinity and water stress Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66 1764–1772 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XoslKhs7k%3D Occurrence Handle10.2136/sssaj2002.1764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J W Hopmans K L Bristow (2002) ArticleTitleCurrent capabilities and future needs of root water and nutrient uptake modeling Adv. Agron. 77 103–183 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0065-2113(02)77014-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C R Jensen H Svendsen M N Andersen R Lösch (1993) ArticleTitleUse of the root contact concept, an empirical leaf conductance model and pressure-volume curves in simulating crop water relations Plant Soil 149 1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • C Jourdan H Rey (1997) ArticleTitleModelling and simulation of the architecture and development of the oil-palm (Elais guinensis Jacq.) root sytem I.–The model Plant Soil 190 235–246 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXltVKhtLY%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004270014678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Lai G Katul (2000) ArticleTitleThe dynamic role of root-water uptake in coupling potential to actual transpiration Adv. Water Res. 23 427–439 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0309-1708(99)00023-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J Landsberg N D Fowkes (1978) ArticleTitleWater movement trough plants Annl. Bot. 42 493–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Li M Fuchs S Cohen Y Cohen R Wallach (2002a) ArticleTitleWater uptake profile response of corn to soil moisture depletion Plant Cell Environ. 25 491–500 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-3040.2002.00825.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Y Li R Wallach Y Cohen (2002b) ArticleTitleThe role of soil hydraulic conductivity on the spatial and temporal variation of root water uptake in drip-irrigated corn Plant Soil 243 131–142 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmsFWmsbY%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1019911908635

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J P Lynch K L Nielsen R D Davis A G Jablokow (1997) ArticleTitleSimRoot: Modelling and visualization of root systems Plant Soil 188 139–151 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXjvFymsrc%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004276724310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • P Moldrup E Rolston J A Hansen T Yamaguchi (1992) ArticleTitleA simple mechanistic model for soil resistance to plant water uptake Soil Sci. 153 87–93 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00010694-199202000-00001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F J Molz (1981) ArticleTitleModels of water transport in the soil–plant system: a review Water Resources Research 17 1245–1260 Occurrence Handle10.1029/WR017i005p01245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G B North P S Nobel (1995) ArticleTitleHydraulic conductivity of concentric root tissues of Agave deserti Engelm. under wet and drying conditions New Phytol. 130 47–57 Occurrence Handle10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb01813.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • L Pages M O Jordan D Picard (1989) ArticleTitleA simulation model of the three-dimensional architecture of the maize root system Plant Soil 119 147–154 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF02370279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J B Passioura (1991) ArticleTitleSoil structure and plant growth Aust. J. Soil Res. 29 717–728 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SR9910717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Pierret C Doussan E Garrigues J Mc Kirby (2003a) ArticleTitleObserving plant roots in their environment: current imaging options and specific contribution of two-dimensional approaches Agronomie 23 471–479 Occurrence Handle10.1051/agro:2003019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A Pierret M Kirby C Moran (2003b) ArticleTitleSimultaneous X-ray imaging of plant root growth and water uptake in thin-slab systems Plant Soil 255 361–373 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXotV2jsrs%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1026130532683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Press W, Teukolsky S A, Wetterling W T, Falnnery B P 2001, Numerical Recipes in Fortran 77, Cambridge University Press

  • J B Reid G Huck (1990) ArticleTitleDiurnal variation of crop hydraulic resistance: a new analysis Agronomy journal 82 827–834 Occurrence Handle10.2134/agronj1990.00021962008200040033x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D A Rose (1968) ArticleTitleWater movement in porous materials. III: Evaporation of water from soil Brit. J. Appl. Phys. 1 1779–1791

    Google Scholar 

  • G Rubio T Walk Z Y Ge X L Yan H Liao J␣P Lynch (2001) ArticleTitleRoot gravitropism and below-ground competition among neighbouring plants: A modelling approach Annl. Bot. 88 929–940 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anbo.2001.1530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F Somma J W Hopmans V Clausnitzer (1998) ArticleTitleTransient three-dimensional modeling of soil water and solute transport with simultaneous root growth, root water and nutrient uptake Plant Soil 202 281–293 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXnsVyntrg%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004378602378

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J S Sperry F R Adler G S Campbell J P Comstock (1998) ArticleTitleLimitation of plant water use by rhizophere and xylem conductance: results from a model Plant, Cell Environ. 21 347–359 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-3040.1998.00287.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S Tamari L Bruckler J Halbertsma J Chadoeuf (1993) ArticleTitleA Simple Method for Determining soil hydraulic-properties in the laboratory Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57 642–651 Occurrence Handle10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700030003x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F Tardieu L Bruckler F Lafolie (1992) ArticleTitleRoot clumping may affect the root water potential and the resistance to soil–root water transport Plant Soil 140 291–301

    Google Scholar 

  • V C Tidwell R J Glass (1994) ArticleTitleX-Ray and visible-light transmission for laboratory measurement of 2-dimensional saturation fields in thin-slab systems Water Res. Res. 30 2873–2882 Occurrence Handle10.1029/94WR00953

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M T Genuchten Particlevan (1980) ArticleTitleA closed-form equation for predicting hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 44 892–898 Occurrence Handle10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400050002x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J A Vrugt M T Wijk Particlevan J W Hopmans J Simunek (2001) ArticleTitleOne-, two-, and three-dimensional root water uptake functions for transient modeling Water Res. Res. 37 2457–2470 Occurrence Handle10.1029/2000WR000027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E L Wang C J Smith (2004) ArticleTitleModelling the growth and water uptake function of plant root systems: a review Aust. J. Agri. Res. 55 501–523 Occurrence Handle10.1071/AR03201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O Wilderotter (2003) ArticleTitleAn adaptive numerical method for the Richards equation with root growth Plant Soil 251 255–267 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXis1Citr0%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1023031924963

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J Wu R Zhang S Gui (1999) ArticleTitleModeling soil water movement with water uptake by roots Plant and Soil 215 7–17 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXos1antA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004702807951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, Unité Climat, Sol, Environnement, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914, Avignon cedex 9, France

    Claude Doussan & Alain Pierret

  2. INRA/INA-PG, Unité Environnement et Grandes Cultures, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Emmanuelle Garrigues

  3. INRA, Unité PSH, Domaine St Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914, Avignon cedex 9, France

    Loïc Pagès

Authors
  1. Claude Doussan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alain Pierret
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Emmanuelle Garrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Loïc Pagès
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Claude Doussan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Doussan, C., Pierret, A., Garrigues, E. et al. Water Uptake by Plant Roots: II – Modelling of Water Transfer in the Soil Root-system with Explicit Account of Flow within the Root System – Comparison with Experiments. Plant Soil 283, 99–117 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-7904-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-004-7904-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation