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Root–soil friction : quantification provides evidence for measurable benefits for manipulation of root-tip traits

This Scottish-Australian interdisciplinary work estimates the component of root-soil friction using direct measurements of pressures exerted by growing root tips, together with measurements of the resistance to a specially-designed, rotating penetrometer. These are the first such combined measurements in soil, with accompanying SEM imaging of the root-soil interface and suggest the benefits of manipulating the roots-soil interface properties to facilitate root penetration of compacted or dry soils; other recent research by Bengough has shown that mechanical impedance is the major limitation to root elongation in many UK soils.