Improvements of rhizoboxes used for studies of soil–root interactions

Abstract

Rhizobox systems of different designs are used to separate rhizosphere soil from bulk soil and are feasible ways to study different aspects of soil–root interactions. However, the methodology is labor intensive and after use the boxes are generally disposed. This makes the experiments expensive. The aim of this paper is to examine the rhizobox system developed at Tokyo University and suggest improvements of the boxes to reduce experiment costs. It also relates some basic considerations when planning rhizobox experiments. Duplicating the root compartment of rhizoboxes is a cost-effective way to double the number of replicates, since only negligible additional labor is needed compared to single root compartments. Assembling the compartments with stainless steel nails facilitates the soil filling procedure. By adapting the material thickness and sealing with non-hardening sealant, the boxes can be reused after appropriate cleaning.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Science and Technology Agency of Japan for providing a fellowship for experimentation with rhizoboxes. I also express my gratitude to Drs. Ae and Chino for introducing me to the topic, and to Karma Tshering for converting pen drawings into professional Autocad ones.