Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1139366 Mathematics and Computers in Simulation 2015 11 Pages PDF
Abstract

•A novel algorithm (space colonization) is used to calculate root hydrotropism.•A model is proposed to couple interaction between root growth and soil–water flow.•We compare effects of hydrotropism to water extraction and root length fraction.•The model can be used to analyze water extraction process and root architecture.•Based on grid, proposed method is flexible to couple with other soil processes.

A three-dimensional dynamic model which is combined with root-system development and water extraction is proposed to simulate the interaction between root growth and soil–water flow. Hydrotropism is considered as one controlling factor of root growth in the model. In the paper, the dynamic root model is simulated based on L-systems. The space colonization algorithm is employed to compute hydrotropism caused by soil moist gradient. The soil–water flow, caused by water extraction rather than by evaporation and irrigation, is solved by finite-element method. A root simulation study is presented for water uptake by a maize root system. Effects of hydrotropism on root are demonstrated. The results show that the proposed method can couple root development to surroundings and analyze effects of hydrotropism to water uptake and root length fraction. Based on grid technology, the proposed method can provide a flexible root model which can be easily coupled with soil processes.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Engineering Control and Systems Engineering
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