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Computer-Assisted Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Root Methods

Abstract

Until recently, techniques for direct measurements on roots and soil water in the rooting zone have been largely destructive, or simply lacked the spatial resolution necessary for meaningful definition of root and water content distributions. With advances in X-ray physics, detector technology and mathematical reconstruction theory, a solution to this problem was essentially achieved by Hounsfield (1972), who developed the technique known as computer-assisted tomography (CAT) or computed tomography (CT). In addition to X- and γ-rays (photons), tomographic imaging is also applicable to other types of energy such as electrons, protons, alpha particles, lasers, radar, seismic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plant Industry, CSIRO, Private Bag, PO, Wembley, Western Australia, 6014, Australia

    S. Asseng

  2. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6907, Australia

    L. A. G. Aylmore

  3. School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27706, USA

    J. S. MacFall

  4. Dept. Land, Air and Water Resources, Hydrology Program, University of California, 123 Veihmeyer Hall, Davis, California, 95616, USA

    J. W. Hopmans

  5. Department of Soil Science, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 233, Reading, RG6 6DW, UK

    P. J. Gregory

Authors
  1. S. Asseng
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  2. L. A. G. Aylmore
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  3. J. S. MacFall
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  4. J. W. Hopmans
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  5. P. J. Gregory
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Research International (Wageningen UR), Postbus 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Albert L. Smit  & Siebe C. van de Geijn  & 

  2. Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) Invergowie, DD2 5DA, Dundee, UK

    A. Glyn Bengough

  3. Institute of Geosciences, Department of Agroecology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany

    Christof Engels

  4. ICRAF, JI CIFOR, PO Box 161, Situ Gede Sindang Barang Bogor 16680, 16001, Bogor, Indonesia

    Meine van Noordwijk

  5. INRA, 71 Avenue Edouard Bourleaux, B.P. 81, 33883, Villenave d’Ornon, France

    Sylvain Pellerin

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Asseng, S., Aylmore, L.A.G., MacFall, J.S., Hopmans, J.W., Gregory, P.J. (2000). Computer-Assisted Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In: Smit, A.L., Bengough, A.G., Engels, C., van Noordwijk, M., Pellerin, S., van de Geijn, S.C. (eds) Root Methods. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04188-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04188-8_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08602-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04188-8

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