Observing Soil-Tool Interactions and Soil Organisms Using X-Ray Computer Tomography

Abstract

ABSTRACT Amedical X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner was used to observe seedlings, insects, and roots within soil and to observe the in situ effects of various penetrometers on soil conditions after penetration. For imaging subterranean phenomena ranging from soil-tool interaction to biological phenomena, X-ray CT is a useful tool. Image artifacts produced with very dense objects may be a problem to overcome when attempting to quantify properties of dense soils. Further work is required to clarify the impact of artifacts on the usefulness of X-ray CT on soil systems.