Chapter 8: MRI of Soil and Soil–Root Processes Check Access

In this chapter, we review the basics of using NMR relaxometry and imaging (MRI) to monitor and analyse water processes in soils and interactions. We first give a brief overview of some special problems in the use of NMR in soil materials caused by rapid relaxation processes in natural porous media. With this knowledge, it is then possible to optimize imaging of water in soils and solute transport in soil–root systems and to set up suitable MRI pulse sequences. The chapter continues with some examples on relaxometric properties and mapping of water content in soil samples. Finally, root–soil interactions are explored through relaxometric imaging of the rhizosphere and solute accumulation in the root system.