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Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy and Roots

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Measuring Roots

Abstract

This chapter reviews studies dealing with the characterization of the plant root system by the electrical impedance method, i.e., with resistance and capacitance at a single frequency or at multifrequencies, according to the approach used in electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Several studies have shown a correlation between electrical capacitance and resistance at a single low frequency with root biomass and morphology (e.g., surface area). It has not been possible to define clearly which part of the root system the electrical parameters represent. The circuitry in the stem–root–soil continuum has been analyzed in more detail by means of EIS. Using this approach, lumped and distributed models have been formulated that consider the role of roots in the context of other components in the circuitry. By means of EIS, a parameter referring to root capacitance was found to correlate positively with root biomass and root surface area. Several open questions remain with regard to the applications of the method. More studies are needed for the evaluation of longitudinal and radial electric field distribution between root interior and soil along the root system from root collar to root tips. In addition, further studies are needed under standardized measurement conditions with soils of different ionic composition and texture as the growing substrate, and also by taking into account the role played by mycorrhizas.

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Acknowledgements

We should like to thank Dr Tarja Lehto and Dr Marja Roitto for their comments and Dr John A Stotesbury for the English revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Joensuu Unit, The Finnish Forest Research Institute, 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Tapani Repo

  2. School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Yang Cao

  3. Department of Physics and Mathematics, University of Eastern Finland, 111, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Raimo Silvennoinen

  4. INRA, UR 1321 Agrosystèmes Tropicaux Domaine Duclos, 97170, Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe, France

    Harry Ozier-Lafontaine

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  1. Tapani Repo
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  2. Yang Cao
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  3. Raimo Silvennoinen
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  4. Harry Ozier-Lafontaine
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Correspondence to Tapani Repo .

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  1. Dipto. Ortoflorofrutticoltura, Università Firenze, Viale delle Idee 30, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy

    Stefano Mancuso

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Repo, T., Cao, Y., Silvennoinen, R., Ozier-Lafontaine, H. (2012). Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy and Roots. In: Mancuso, S. (eds) Measuring Roots. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22067-8_2

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