ROOTMAP
Modelling root systems interacting with the soil
ROOTMAP is a three dimensional (3D) root architecture model. You can view animated model outputs from links in the table at the bottom of the page.
ROOTMAP has been developed to simulate root systems growing in response to the non-uniform supply of water and nutrients in the soil environment.
ROOTMAP can generate any actual or theoretical root architecture and any number of soil resources can be considered. The soil resources currently included are: water, nitrate and phosphate.
ROOTMAP has been used to model a range of problems including:
- Pea root growth in response to changes in soil strength.
- Lupin root growth and nutrient uptake plasticity responses to heterogeneous nitrate supply in nutrient solution.
- Phosphorus leaching and dispersion in sandy soil and lupin root growth in soil in response to phosphorus placement.
- Lupin and wheat root growth, water and nitrate transport and uptake, in the Western Australian wheat-belt.
- Interaction between root architecture, root physiology and water and nutrient movement through the soil profile.
- Efficiency of nitrate uptake in relation to spatial and temporal supply, root architecture, and plasticity in root growth and physiology.
- Extensive investigation of rooting traits and their contribution to competition between crops and weeds for water and nutrients.
ROOTMAP model produces static and animated images of root systems and their interaction with the environment.
[Comment: As discussed no table, but I have added the information]
The table below has animated examples of the effect of different scenarios on ROOTMAP model outputs.
All information about RootMap A powerpoint file providing all information about RootMap project
Click on the links to view model outputs Scenario under which model roots are growing
Two contrasting root systems growing in a coarse sand. The root system on the left has more vigorous growth of roots at depth. The soil initially has a uniform water content and uniform nitrate concentration. Successive additions of water at the surface cause leaching of nitrate. Because of uptake of water and nitrate, less leaching occurs directly under the plants. The plant with more roots has a greater effect. Water content is indicated by intensity of cyan colouring. Concentration of nitrate is indicated by intensity of magenta colouring and by representative nitrate ions shown as black dots. The grid cells are 3cm wide and 5 cm in depth.
Subsoil constraint [1,488 kB]
Two genetically identical root systems growing in a coarse sand. The root system on the right encounters a subsoil constraint at depth that restricts growth of roots. The soil initially has a uniform water content and uniform nitrate concentration. Successive additions of water at the surface cause leaching of nitrate. Because of uptake of water and nitrate, less leaching occurs directly under the plants. Leaching is greater where the subsoil constraint is present. The final result is similar to the example above where differences in root growth are caused by differences in the plants. The presence of the subsoil constraint is indicated by yellow colouring. Water content is indicated by intensity of cyan colouring. Concentration of nitrate is indicated by intensity of magenta colouring and by representative nitrate ions shown as black dots. The combined presence of high levels of nitrate, water and subsoil constraint results in the dark red colouration of some cells at depth, late in the simulation.The grid cells are 3cm wide and 5 cm in depth.
Response to nitrate and water [338 kB]
Three genetically identical root systems growing in a coarse sand. The soil initially has a uniform water content and a nitrate concentration that decreases with depth. The root system on the left encounters a zone of elevated nitrate concentration at depth. The root system on the right encounters an initially dry zone at depth. Successive additions of water at the surface cause leaching of nitrate. Because of uptake of water and nitrate, less leaching occurs directly under the plants. Note stimulation of root growth at depth in the root system on the left due to elevated nitrate concentration. Also note reduced growth of roots growing into dry soil in the root system on the right, with a compensatory increase in root growth near the surface. Water content is indicated by intensity of cyan colouring. Concentration of nitrate is indicated by intensity of magenta colouring and by representative nitrate ions shown as black dots. The grid cells are 3cm wide and 5 cm in depth.
Roots growing [244 kB]
Growth of a fibrous root system
Art Diggle
Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture
The University of Western Australia
Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
[email protected]
Vanessa Dunbabin
Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research
The University of Tasmania
Private Bag 54
Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
[email protected]
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
