Root architecture development in stony soils

Soils with high stone content represent a challenge to root development, as each is an obstacle growth. A also affects soil properties such temperature or water content, which in turn We investigated the effects of all combined on development field using both experiments and modeling. Field were carried out rhizotron facilities during two consecutive growing seasons (wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] maize [Zea mays L.]) silty loam soils (>50%) low (<4%) contents. extended CPlantBox architecture model explicitly consider presence stones simulated growth plot scale over whole vegetation period. found that linear increase resulted decrease rooting depth across contents developmental stages considered, whereas was only sensitive cracks below certain crack density at earlier stages. Moreover, impact precipitation-influenced strength had relatively stronger arrival curves periods than temperature. Resulting differences between stony non-stony otherwise same crop weather conditions show similar trends observed facilities. The belowground characteristic system measures up 48%. In future work, comparison absolute values will require including shoot effects—in particular, different carbon availabilities.