Pore‐scale simulation of mucilage drainage

Compared with bulk soil, rhizosphere has different properties because of the existence root mucilage, which affects physical, chemical, and microbial processes. The slow response to changes in water potential buffers content leads be wetter than soil during drying. By affecting connectivity liquid gas phases, mucilage can also influence solute transport diffusion. Overview literature previous models shows lack a model that describes between phases pore space wetting drying A major challenge is complex behavior, at low concentrations more like liquid, whereas higher concentration, dry becomes solid. In between, viscoelastic state observed where considered as hydrogel. this study three-dimensional pore-scale based on lattice spring method introduced used simulate two particles. capable reproducing spider-web-like structures are specific for mucilage. This qualitatively validated via environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) images glass beads. proposed may provide us new perspective hydrodynamic processes within rhizosphere. addition, help better understand further important strongly depend hydraulic dynamics, such transport, phase, penetration resistance, rhizosheath formation, activity.