MicroCT Scanner Now Available: A Tool for Advanced Soil and Plant Research
Last Friday, our new and advanced microCT scanner, located at Skejby Hospital, was inaugurated. This means that we now have new opportunities to study soil structure, root systems, and biological activity with great precision.
After a long wait, Aarhus University's new microCT scanner is officially operational. Although the machine has been in use for some time, it was inaugurated on September 12th at a reception held at Skejby Hospital. The scanner is available to researchers across multiple departments, and the Department of Agroecology is already using it for groundbreaking studies of soil structure and root systems.
A Game-Changer for Soil Research
According to Lars J. Munkholm, the scanner is a game-changer for soil research: “We have been using microCT scanning in soil research for over 20 years, but having our own scanner makes a huge difference. It allows us to study how soil structure affects the transport of water and gases, as well as soil compaction and biological activity, with great precision, without having to transport samples over long distances.”
The scanner can produce 3D images with a resolution as fine as 2 µm, making it possible to explore how soil structure supports agricultural systems. Current projects include studies on water and chemical flow in soil, mapping soil organic matter, and analyzing root systems in crops.
How to Access the Scanner
Researchers from various departments can use the scanner for their own experiments, whether investigating changes in soil structure under pressure, examining how different root systems affect water retention and nutrient uptake, or perhaps exploring something entirely new that has not been tried before. For more information on how the scanner can be applied to your research project, you can contact Lars J. Munkholm or Mansonia P. Moncada.
Currently, using the scanner is free, though a fee may be introduced in the future to cover operating costs. However, costs for technician time during scans should be expected.
Read more about the scanner here