High-throughput monitoring of root diameter reveals the temporal dynamics of root decomposition

Increasing C storage in cultivated soils requires a better understanding of C dynamics, particularly at depth, where root litter decomposition dynamics is expected to be slower than in ploughed layers.

We assessed the effect of barley root diameter on root decomposition in situ using a non-invasive method at different depths. Temporal decreases in root diameter and length were measured using images acquired by optical scanners buried at depths of 20, 50 and 90 cm from seeding and for 1.5 years. A parallel root litterbag experiment was performed to measure root mass loss.

Root decomposition was observed on the scanned images before the flowering stage, with up to 85 % of the maximum root volume achieved being lost at harvest. Thinner roots (<0.3 mm) decomposed more slowly than thicker roots. Root length decreased faster at 20 cm than at 50 cm, but soil depth had no significant impact on the dynamics of root-diameter decrease.

Optical scanner-based image analysis complements litterbags by enabling individual root tracking and in situ decomposition assessment without root manipulation. This method offers the opportunity to measure root decomposition at various soil depths over long periods, and could improve the estimation of root-derived soil C inputs.