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Combination of micro suction cups and time‐domain reflectometry to measure osmotic potential gradients between bulk soil and rhizosphere at high resolution in time and space

A prerequisite to investigate the importance of osmotic potential (Ψo) in relation to matric potential (Ψm) in the soil for water uptake is the existence of a method that measures the temporal and spatial dynamics of Ψo in the vicinity of roots. One method for measuring Ψoin situ is the collection of soil solution with micro suction cups, the spatial resolution of which is suitable for rhizosphere studies. A major drawback of soil solution sampling is the disturbance of soil solution equilibrium, which makes frequent measurements impossible, so another method is required to provide information on the temporal dynamics of Ψo. The time‐domain reflectometry (TDR) technique might be suitable as the signal attenuation (σ) shows a close linear correlation with the salt concentration for a known soil water content. The temporal resolution of the TDR technique is high and the measurement has no impact on soil solution equilibrium. However, the spatial resolution of the TDR technique is too coarse to be used on its own in rhizosphere studies.