Effect of soil total iron on magnetic resonance image quality

Abstract

Abstract Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides intriguing opportunities for studying soil organisms and plant roots. However, the usefulness of MRI is sometimes limited by iron fractions which interfere with image quality. Data were collected which quantified hydrogen MR image intensity versus concentration of total iron in selected soils. It is suggested that one compare MRI signal intensity of water in a standard material such as purified quartz and in the natural soil of interest when doing quantitative hydrogen MRI studies involving soil plants or other organisms.