Abstract
Measurements in soils have been traditionally used to demonstrate that soil architecture is one of the key drivers of soil processes. Major advances in the use of X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) afford significant insight into the pore geometry of soils, but until recently no experimental techniques were available to reproduce this complexity in microcosms. This article describes a 3D additive manufacturing technology that can print physical structures with pore geometries reflecting those of soils. The process enables printing of replicated structures, and the printing materials are suitable to study fungal growth. This technology is argued to open up a wealth of opportunities for soil biological studies.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 53-55 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Soil Biology and Biochemistry |
Volume | 51 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2012 |
Keywords
- Soil structure
- X-ray CT
- Additive manufacturing process