Main description:

The advent of X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) as a tool for the soil sciences almost 40 years ago has revolutionised the field. Soil is the fragile, thin layer of material that exists above earth's geological substrates upon which so much of life on earth depends. However a major limitation to our understanding of how soils behave and function is due to its complex, opaque structure that hinders our ability to assess its porous architecture without disturbance. X-ray imagery has facilitated the ability to truly observe soil as it exists in three dimensions and across contrasting spatial and temporal scales in the field in an undisturbed fashion.

This book gives a comprehensive overview of the "state of the art" in a variety of application areas where this type of imaging is used, including soil water physics and hydrology, agronomic management of soils, and soil-plant-microbe interactions. It provides the necessary details for entry level readers in the crucial areas of sample preparation, scanner optimisation and image processing and analysis.
Drawing on experts across the globe, from both academia and industry, the book covers the necessary "dos and don'ts", but also offers insights into the future of both technology and science. The wider application of the book is provided by dedicated chapters on how the data from such imagery can be incorporated into models and how the technology can be interfaced with other relevant technical applications.

The book ends with a future outlook from the four editors, each of whom has over 20 years of experience in the application of X-ray CT to soil science.

Contents:

1. 40 years of X-ray CT in soil: Historical context: (Sacha Mooney, Sacha.Mooney@nottingham.ac.uk)
A summary of the development of the technology from a soil science perspective

2. CT scanning for the Soil Sciences: (Andrew Ramsey, Nikon, UK TBC, Andrew.Ramsey@nikon.com)
The science and industry view of what systems are available, configurations etc.

3. Soil Sampling & Preparation: (Fabio Terribile, University of Napoli, Italy, fabio.terribile@unina.it)
Appropriate size of samples, water content, intact cores, orientation

4. Optimising the Scanning Process: (Craig Sturrock, University Of Nottingham, UK, craig.sturrock@nottingham.ac.uk)
Best practice in the art of X-ray CT for soil science from sample mounting to X-ray settings

5. Image Reconstruction & Correction: (Richard Heck, Guelph University, Canada rheck@uoguelph.ca)
Pre analysis imaging, image correction and volume reconstruction

6. Image Processing & Segmentation: (Luis Pires, Ponta Grossa University, Brazil luizfpires@gmail.com & Hu Zhou, Institute of Soil Sciences, China, zhouhu@issas.ac.cn)
Best practice in image analysis from greyscale to binary Filter, analysis

7. Quantification of Soil Porous Architecture: (Stefan Schulter, steffen.schlueter@ufz.de & Hans-Joerg Vogel, Helmhotz Centre, Germany Hans-Joerg.Vogel@ufz.de)
Assessment of the pore geometry, appropriate measurement and what we have learnt

8. Spatial Analysis of CT data: (Daniel Gimenez, Rutgers University, USA, dgimenez@envsci.rutgers.edu)
Fractals, distance transforms, greyscale imaging

9. X-ray Imaging & Soil Water Physics/Hydrology: (Stephen Anderson, University of Missouri, USA, AndersonS@missouri.edu)
Use of CT to image water in pores and water/solute transport processes

10. X-ray Imaging & Soil Mechanical Processes: (Lars Munkholm, Aarhus University, Denmark, lars.munkholm@agro.au.dk)
New insights on compaction, tillage etc. from CT imaging, digital image correlation & geotechnics. Soil strength & deformation of soil

11. X-ray Imaging Root- Soil Interactions: (Doris Vetterlein, Helmholtz Centre, Germany, doris.vetterlein@ufz.de)
The latest from the rhizosphere to the whole root system architecture

12. X-ray Imaging & Soil Biology: (Sasha Kravenchenko, Michigan State University, USA kravche1@msu.edu)
Effects of worms, insects, fungi and bacteria on soil structuring. Benchtop and synchrotron efforts to stain and visualise OM in soils

13. X-ray CT for soil genesis and classification (Rainer Horn, University of Kiel, Germany rhorn@soils.uni-kiel.de)
How does CT of soil structure inform our understanding of soil genesis, formation and classification. Soil structural dynamics. Soil structure changes over time due to management/rotation etc.

14. Integrating X-ray CT data into models: (Xavier Portell-Canal, Cranfield University, UK xavier.portell@cranfield.ac.uk & Valerie Pot, INRA, France, Valerie.Pot@inra.fr)
Updating on development of pore scale modelling and the 3D imaging perspective
Spatially explicit models

15. Integrating X-ray CT with other imaging technologies: (Manoj Menon, Sheffield University, UK, m.menon@sheffield.ac.uk & Wilfred Otten, Cranfield University, UK Wilfred.Otten@cranfield.ac.uk)
How CT can be combined with MRI, Neutron imaging, NANOSIMs etc.

16. Future Perspectives: (Sacha Mooney, Sacha.Mooney@nottingham.ac.uk)
What do the next 40 years hold in terms of 4D imaging, resolution, detection etc.