A new device for detecting forest root phenotypes

Abstract

The utility model discloses a novel device for detecting the phenotype of forest root system, which comprises multiple closed annular structures from inside to outside, and detachable connecting rods are threadedly connected between adjacent closed annular structures; wherein each closed annular structure comprises multiple arc-shaped connecting rods, and transparent detection cylinders are fixedly connected between adjacent arc-shaped connecting rods, and the arc-shaped connecting rods and the detection cylinders are alternately arranged to form the closed annular structure. The number of small cylinders can be flexibly adjusted to detect roots at different depths. The three circular connecting rods have different radii to ensure that the roots within the distribution range are detected. In addition, the circular connecting rods and the detection cylinders on the inner side can be vertically detached after the growth of the trees, so that the device and the detachment process do not affect the growth of the tree trunks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the forestry field, specifically to a root phenotypic detection device for forest trees. Background Technology

[0002] As the core organ for direct exchange of matter and energy between trees and the soil environment, the root system's spatial configuration and physiological activity jointly determine the plant's establishment, survival, and competitive ability. The root system is not only responsible for the absorption of water and nutrients, but its metabolic activities and rhizosphere microbial interactions are also accompanied by significant energy conversion and thermal effects. Therefore, the thermodynamic properties of the root system are a direct reflection of its life activities, and accurate detection of the root temperature field has irreplaceable theoretical value for analyzing the overall carbon allocation strategy, water use efficiency, and environmental adaptation mechanisms of trees.

[0003] Studying the root system characteristics of forest trees is crucial for revealing their ecological functions and stress responses. However, current in-situ root observation techniques, such as the microroot window method, are mostly used to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of root production and to study the interactions between roots and other soil organisms. These techniques only provide morphological and phenological information and cannot capture more phenotypic traits of the roots. More importantly, soil, as a complex, opaque medium with significant temperature gradients, makes it exceptionally difficult to separate the physiological heat production of the roots from the surrounding soil background. This has become a major technical bottleneck in root physiological ecology research.

[0004] Existing patented technologies for root observation, while continuously improving in morphological recording, generally neglect functional state information of the root system. For example, the "root scanning data acquisition device" described in patent CN202420724781 focuses its innovation on the flexibility of the mechanical structure (such as lifting and rotating braking) to obtain higher-resolution root images. However, this device and similar technologies are essentially still capturing visible light information and cannot detect microscale temperature changes caused by root physiological activities (such as transpiration cooling effect caused by water absorption) or soil environmental heterogeneity. This lack of functional observation dimension prevents researchers from distinguishing between living and dead roots with similar morphology but vastly different physiological activities in real time, and also prevents early diagnosis of root functional changes caused by water stress. Furthermore, the inability to simultaneously observe different angles of the root leads to a lack of global observation of the root system. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel device for detecting the phenotypic characteristics of tree roots.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of this utility model is as follows: A novel device for detecting the phenotypic characteristics of tree roots includes multiple closed ring structures from the inside out, with detachable connecting rods threaded between adjacent closed ring structures; Each closed ring structure includes multiple arc-shaped connecting rods, and a transparent detection cylinder is fixedly connected between adjacent arc-shaped connecting rods. The arc-shaped connecting rods and the detection cylinder are arranged alternately to form a closed ring structure. A fixed plate and a movable plate are slidably installed inside the detection cylinder; The movable plate has a rack on the side facing the fixed plate, and several gears that engage with the rack are rotatably mounted on the fixed plate. On the side of the movable plate facing away from the fixed plate, there are scale lines marked on one side and a flat panel light embedded in the other side. The lower part of the side of the movable plate facing away from the fixed plate also has a first mounting groove and a second mounting groove for mounting a thermal imager and a camera device, respectively.

[0007] In a further improvement, the detection cylinder has a rectangular cross-section and comprises four to eight smaller cylinders from top to bottom; adjacent smaller cylinders are slidably connected to each other and fitted with a snap-fit ​​positioning structure.

[0008] In a further improvement, two parallel first limiting plates are fixed to the left side of the top inner wall of the small cylinder, and two parallel second limiting plates are fixed to the right side of the top inner wall; limiting gaps that cooperate with the fixed plates are formed between the first limiting plates and between the second limiting plates; a U-shaped limiting block that cooperates with the moving plate is also fixed between the first limiting plates and the second limiting plates.

[0009] In a further improvement, the snap-fit ​​positioning structure includes a spherical snap-fit ​​groove formed on a small cylinder and a corresponding mounting groove formed on another small cylinder. A compression spring is installed in the mounting groove, and the compression spring is connected to a snap bead that mates with the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0010] Further improvements include a bottom section with a diameter of 6cm and a length of 30cm, and an increase in diameter of 2cm for each section of the top section.

[0011] As a further improvement, the detection cylinder is made of high-purity quartz glass.

[0012] In a further improvement, sleeves are integrally formed on both sides of the detection cylinder, and vertical threaded holes are formed on the sleeves. An arc-shaped connecting rod is inserted into the sleeve and is detachably fixed to the sleeve by a positioning bolt that is threaded to the vertical threaded hole.

[0013] In a further improvement, the camera device is a mobile phone; a partition is installed between the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot; springs are installed at the ends of the first mounting slot and the second mounting slot away from the partition, and the springs are connected to a support plate.

[0014] In a further improvement, a battery cell is fixed inside the moving plate, and the battery cell is electrically connected to the flat panel light via a flat panel light switch; the battery cell is also electrically connected to a Bluetooth device via a Bluetooth switch for communication with the thermal imager and camera.

[0015] A further improvement is that magnetic rings are installed on both the first and second mounting slots. These magnetic rings are used to attract the mobile phone and thermal imager, further enhancing their stability.

[0016] Advantages of this utility model: 1. This utility model uses high-purity quartz glass, which is corrosion-resistant, acid- and alkali-resistant, and can be buried underground for a long time. It can directly observe the root system of trees through the visible light band, and can also detect the temperature of the soil and root system through the glass using a thermal imager. It can simultaneously observe the morphological and physiological characteristics of the root system, thus meeting a variety of scientific research needs.

[0017] 2. This utility model uses two detachable connecting rods to connect the inner and outer three-layer circular connecting rods, ensuring that when the main trunk grows to a radius exceeding that of the inner connecting rod, the inner connecting rod can be detached, and the middle layer detection tube can be used for continued observation, thereby increasing the observation time and range of the tree root system.

[0018] 3. Apart from the Bluetooth sensor on the moving plate, the other parts and accessories of this device are relatively easy to obtain and replace. Therefore, the overall cost of the device is low, its cost-effectiveness is far superior to that of expensive professional micro-root cannulas, it is easy to maintain, and it has great potential for widespread application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure between the fixed plate, the moving plate, and the detection cylinder.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the snap-fit ​​positioning structure.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the movable plate.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the movable plate.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the fixing plate.

[0025] The components include: detachable connecting rod 1, arc-shaped connecting rod 2, detection cylinder 3, small cylinder 31, first limiting plate 312, second limiting plate 313, limiting gap 314, U-shaped limiting block 315, slot 316, mounting slot 317, compression spring 318, retaining ball 319, sleeve 32, vertical threaded hole 33, fixing plate 4, gear 41, moving plate 5, rack 51, scale line 52, flat panel light 53, first mounting slot 54, second mounting slot 55, thermal imager 6, camera device 7, spacer 8, spring 9, support plate 10, flat panel light switch 11, and Bluetooth switch 12. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below.

[0027] like Figures 1-6 The device shown is for detecting the phenotypic characteristics of tree roots, comprising: The device itself consists of connecting rods and detection cylinders 3. The connecting rods include a detachable connecting rod 1 and an arc-shaped connecting rod 2. Starting from young trees, the device has three layers of arc-shaped connecting rods connecting the detection cylinders 3, all of which can be used to observe the root system. When the radial growth of the tree trunk reaches a diameter that is almost larger than the inner circular connecting rod, the detachable connecting rod 4 is first removed, and then the inner arc-shaped connecting rod and the corresponding detection cylinder are pulled out. The middle and outer detection cylinders can then be used to continue detecting the root system. This can be extrapolated to allow for long-term monitoring of the tree root phenotype.

[0028] The testing cylinder 3 is made of high-purity quartz and consists of 4 to 8 smaller cylinders 2. The 8th smaller cylinder has a diameter of 6cm and a length of 30cm, with the diameter of each upward-moving smaller cylinder increasing by 2cm. Each time a smaller cylinder is pulled down, a locking and positioning structure secures it in place, the size of which depends on the depth of the root system being tested.

[0029] refer to Figure 2 The fixed plate is inserted into the detection cylinder at the limit gap 314. The fixed plate consists of 5 to 9 gears 20.

[0030] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The first mounting slot 54 and the second mounting slot are both connected to the support plate 10 by springs 9, supporting the main equipment for root detection (mobile phone (or camera) and thermal imager 6). When photographing the roots in the visible light band, a surface light source on one side provides uniform illumination, controlled by a flat panel light switch 11. When the movable plate is lowered into the ground, a Bluetooth switch 12 on the top connects to the mobile phone via Bluetooth to photograph the roots (similar to the principle of a Bluetooth selfie stick). There is a scale line 52 on the right side to record the depth of the photographed roots at any time. The movable plate contains a rechargeable battery cell, which can be charged by an external solar panel via a wire connection to the socket.

[0031] The working principle and usage process of this utility model are as follows: The device is pre-installed with the desired length of tree roots to be photographed, with the tree trunk located at the center point of the device. The mobile phone and thermal imager are then fixed in the moving plate. Next, each detection tube is inserted into the fixed plate, and then the moving plate is moved. The gear 41 on the fixed plate creates resistance against the rack on the moving plate, thereby positioning the moving plate. The positions of the mobile phone and thermal imager are determined by the scale lines. After the moving plate reaches the preset position, pressing the Bluetooth switch on the top allows for sequential photographing or recording of the entire vertical area of ​​the root system at a specific point. Simultaneously, the solar panel can be connected to the charging port to wirelessly charge the battery cells and keep the tablet light constantly on, thus providing illumination for long-term mobile phone photography.

[0032] When the plant's root system expands to the innermost ring, the detachable connecting rod 1 on the inner side can be removed, and then the arc-shaped connecting rod 2 of the innermost ring can be removed. The innermost detection tube can be pulled out, and the fixed plate and the moving plate can be moved into the detection tube of the middle ring. Similarly, when the root system continues to expand, it can be detected through the detection tube of the outermost ring.

[0033] During the testing process of this invention, the positions of the inner and outer detection cylinders are relatively fixed, so the positions of the root system photographs taken are also relatively fixed. This facilitates the tracking of continuous changes in the root system at different angles and at different times, providing more complete and continuous data for root system research.

[0034] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A novel device for detecting the phenotypic characteristics of tree roots, characterized in that, It includes multiple closed ring structures from the inside out, and adjacent closed ring structures are connected by a detachable connecting rod (1) by threads. Each closed ring structure includes multiple arc-shaped connecting rods (2), and a transparent detection cylinder (3) is fixedly connected between adjacent arc-shaped connecting rods (2). The arc-shaped connecting rods (2) and the detection cylinder (3) are arranged alternately to form a closed ring structure. A fixed plate (4) and a movable plate (5) are slidably installed inside the detection cylinder (3); The movable plate (5) has a rack (51) on the side facing the fixed plate (4), and a number of gears (41) that engage with the rack (51) are rotatably mounted on the fixed plate (4); the movable plate (5) has a scale line (52) marked on one side and a flat panel light (53) embedded on the other side; the lower part of the movable plate (5) facing away from the fixed plate (4) also has a first mounting groove (54) and a second mounting groove (55) for mounting the thermal imager (6) and the camera device (7), respectively.

2. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-section of the detection cylinder (3) is rectangular, and the detection cylinder (3) includes four to eight small cylinders (31) from top to bottom; adjacent small cylinders (31) are slidably connected to each other and are equipped with a snap-fit ​​positioning structure.

3. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Two parallel first limiting plates (312) are fixed on the left side of the top inner wall of the small cylinder (31), and two parallel second limiting plates (313) are fixed on the right side of the top inner wall; a limiting gap (314) is formed between the first limiting plates (312) and between the second limiting plates (313) to cooperate with the fixed plate (4); a U-shaped limiting block (315) to cooperate with the moving plate (5) is also fixed between the first limiting plates and the second limiting plates (313).

4. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​positioning structure includes a spherical snap-fit ​​groove (316) formed on a small cylinder (31) and a corresponding mounting groove (317) formed on another small cylinder (31). A compression spring (318) is installed in the mounting groove (317), and the compression spring (318) is connected to a snap bead (319) that cooperates with the snap-fit ​​groove (316).

5. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bottommost tube is 6cm in diameter and 30cm long, and the diameter of each section of the tube increases by 2cm as you move upwards.

6. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The detection cylinder (3) is made of high-purity quartz glass.

7. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The detection cylinder (3) has sleeves (32) integrally formed on both sides. Vertical threaded holes (33) are formed on the sleeves (32). The arc-shaped connecting rod (2) is inserted into the sleeve (32) and is detachably fixed to the sleeve (32) by a positioning bolt that is threaded to the vertical threaded hole (33).

8. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The camera device (7) is a mobile phone; a partition (8) is installed between the first mounting slot (54) and the second mounting slot (55); a spring (9) is installed at the end of the first mounting slot (54) and the second mounting slot (55) away from the partition (8), and the spring (9) is connected to a support plate (10).

9. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mobile plate (5) has a battery cell fixed inside. The battery cell is electrically connected to the flat panel light (53) through the flat panel light switch (11). The battery cell is also electrically connected to the thermal imager (6) and the camera device (7) through the Bluetooth switch (12).

10. The novel tree root phenotypic detection device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Magnetic rings are installed on both the first mounting slot (54) and the second mounting slot (55).

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