Surface tension, rheology and hydrophobicity of rhizodeposits and seed mucilage influence soil water retention and hysteresis
Tests the hypothesis that the effect of plant exudates and mucilages on hydraulic properties of soils depends on their physicochemical characteristics
Abstract
Rhizodeposits collected from hydroponic solutions with roots of maize and barley, and seed mucilage washed from chia, were added to soil to measure their impact on water retention and hysteresis in a sandy loam soil at a range of concentrations. We test the hypothesis that the effect of plant exudates and mucilages on hydraulic properties of soils depends on their physicochemical characteristics and origin.
This is a publication arising from the Sustainable Crop production for International Development (SCPRID) programme.
Citation
Naveed M, Ahmed M, Benard P, Brown L, George T, Bengough A, Roose T, Koebernick N, Hallett P (2019). Surface tension, rheology and hydrophobicity of rhizodeposits and seed mucilage influence soil water retention and hysteresis. Plant Soil. 437(1):65-81.