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Calibrating the impact of root orientation on root quantification using ground-penetrating radar

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Abstract

Background and aims

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has provided a non-invasive means for field root investigation. However, the horizontal cross angle (x) of root orientation intersecting a survey line considerably impacts the amplitude area (A) reflected from a root and impairs the accuracy of GPR-based root quantification. Prediction of A(90°) (the value of A scanning at x = 90°) from multiple A(x) measurements could correct such impact. Previous method of A(90°) prediction focused on target roots at field point scale. The aim of this study is to develop a method to predict A(90°) at field plot scale.

Methods

A(90°) was predicted by a pair of A(x) measured at two arbitrary scanning lines together with an estimated soil background amplitude area. Three independent datasets were employed to test the proposed method. The field experiment included radar data collected for six roots of Caragana microphylla in a sandy-clay soil at four cross angles (30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°). The sand box experiment included radar data for 12 dowels at 13 cross angles (0° to 180°, in 15° steps). The simulation experiment included A(x) of 46 simulated roots at 13 cross angles (0° to 180°, in 15° steps).

Results

For all experiments, A(90°) was accurately estimated. Root orientation could also be determined. After correcting the impact of cross angle, the accuracy of root diameter estimation improved. Correlation coefficient between actual and estimated root diameters increased from 0.77 to 0.81, with RMSE declining from 9.53 to 7.05 mm.

Conclusions

A method of correcting the influence of root orientation on root GPR signal at the field plot scale has been established. This method enhances root quantification using GPR.

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Abbreviations

GPR:

Ground-penetrating radar

x :

Root angle subtended to the transecting line

A :

Amplitude area

∑A :

Sum of the amplitude areas for all reflection waveforms

Single A max :

Amplitude area of the maximum reflection waveform

B :

Amplitude area of the soil background

EM:

Electromagnetic

RMSE :

Root mean square error

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41401378) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2013NT39). Y.H. and T.T. acknowledge financial supports from the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (Grant No. 22380090, 25252027). We gratefully thank Masako Dannoura, Hidetoshi Ikeno, and Keitaro Yamase for their valuable comments and suggestions that have helped improve the manuscript. We also thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Li Guo & Jin Chen

  2. Joint Center for Global Change Studies, Beijing, 100875, China

    Li Guo & Jin Chen

  3. State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    Yuan Wu, Wentao Li & Xihong Cui

  4. Graduate School of Environment Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Yasuhiro Hirano

  5. Kansai Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Nagai-kyutaro, Momoyama, Fushimi, Kyoto, 612-0855, Japan

    Toko Tanikawa

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  1. Li Guo
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  2. Yuan Wu
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  3. Jin Chen
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  4. Yasuhiro Hirano
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  6. Wentao Li
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Correspondence to Jin Chen.

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Responsible Editor: Alain Pierret.

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Guo, L., Wu, Y., Chen, J. et al. Calibrating the impact of root orientation on root quantification using ground-penetrating radar. Plant Soil 395, 289–305 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-015-2563-9

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