The behaviour of roots encountering cracks in soil

Summary It is shown that probabilities of root penetration across cracks in soil can be calculated effectively using a mathematical model involving root stress and soil distributions and penetrometer/root stress ratios. Penetration criteria are developed, and it is found that the effective penetrometer/root stress ratios take values of about 4 for crack widths smaller than about 2 mm and about 8 for wider cracks. Root swelling does not appear to contribute significantly to the probability of root penetration through any effect on root buckling stress. Suggestions are made for further work on the effects of soil structure and strength on root behaviour.