Acta Agronomica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 53: Issue 2
Electrical capacitance of roots in relation to plant electrodes, measuring frequency and root media
Authors:
K. RajkaiResearch Institute of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary

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K. R. VéghResearch Institute of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest, Hungary

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, and
T. NacsaN-Telekom Co. Ltd., Kiskunhalas, Hungary

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Pages:
197–210
Online Publication Date:
19 Sep 2005
Publication Date:
01 Aug 2005
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/AAgr.53.2005.2.8
Keywords:
plant electrode; plant electrode; plant electrode; frequency dependence; root-soil capacitance model
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The electrical capacitance method was applied for the examination of living root systems in a pot experiment. The measured root capacitances gave an unambiguous indication of the development of root mass and length. The root capacitances measured using needle and clamp plant electrodes were closely similar when the roots of whole plants were placed in water, while increasing differences were observed with a decrease in soil water saturation. The difference in capacitance between the plant electrodes is outlined by interpreting the action mechanism of the clamp electrode. The capacitance and electrical impedance spectra (30 Hz-1 MHz) were determined for roots in soil, for pieces of roots washed free of soil, and for the soil itself. The root capacitance was smaller than that of the soil and higher than that of root pieces at 1 kHz, while the capacitance of the soil became equal to that of roots in soil at about 2 kHz. This calls attention to the importance of the measuring frequency when determining root capacitance. A capacitor model with two dielectric media is proposed besides Dalton's model in order to interpret the behaviour of root and soil capacitances. However, its validity requires further verification.

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Cover Acta Agronomica Hungarica
Acta Agronomica Hungarica
Print ISSN:
0238-0161
Online ISSN:
1588-2527

Acta Agronomica Hungarica
Language English
Russian
German
French
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 1950
Publication
Programme		 ceased
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia   
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0238-0161 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2527 (Online)

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