Study of tree root system development using 3D modeling

Abstract

The results of a study of the development of the root system of Picea abies under growing conditions in the North of Russia (subzone of mid-taiga forests) are presented. A separate tree aged 34 years and 17 m high was selected for the study. The root system was exhumed with a 4x4 m square with a trunk in the center. For 3D modeling, a 360° scan was carried out on three sides of the root system using an Artec Evo handheld 3D scanner. As a result of the scanning, a 3D model of the root system was obtained with 251 individual roots with a diameter of 0.5 cm or more. Analysis of the 3D model showed that the total length of the root system was 18408 cm, and the average length of one root was 74.5 cm. The diameters of the roots varied from 0.5 to 18 cm, but 1–3 cm prevailed. The morphometric structure of the root system included four main large roots with with diameters of 14–22 cm, emanating from the tree trunk and directed perpendicular to each other, to which the roots of the conditional 2nd and 3rd orders were adjacent. Areas of increased growth of roots of different orders were identified in the diagonal direction. In general, the results obtained correspond to the ideas about the root architectonics of this type of tree.