The numerous feedback loops between roots, microorganisms, soil chemical and physical properties, and environmental variables result in spatial parameter patterns which are highly dynamic in time. In order to improve our understanding of the related rhizosphere processes and their relevance at the soil–plant system scale, experimental platforms are required. Those platforms should enable (1) to relate small scale observations (nm to dm) to system behaviour, (2) the integration of physical, chemical and biological sampling approaches within the same experiment, and (3) sampling at different time points during the life cycle of the system in question. Here we describe what requirements have to be met and to what extent this has been achieved in practice by the experimental platforms which were set up within the framework of DFG priority programme 2089 “Rhizosphere Spatiotemporal Organisation—a key to rhizosphere functions”. It is discussed to what extent theoretical considerations could be accommodated, in particular for the comparison across scales, i.e., from laboratory to field scale. The latter scale is of utmost importance to overcome the trade‐off between fraction of life cycle covered and the avoidance of unrealistic root length densities.

中文翻译：

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根际时空模式调查的实验平台—实验室和田间尺度

根，微生物，土壤化学和物理特性以及环境变量之间的众多反馈循环导致空间参数模式在时间上具有高度动态性。为了增进我们对相关根际过程及其在土壤-植物系统规模上的相关性的理解，需要实验平台。这些平台应能够（1）将小规模观测值（nm到dm）与系统行为相关联；（2）在同一实验中整合物理，化学和生物采样方法；以及（3）在测试期间的不同时间点进行采样有关系统的生命周期。在这里，我们描述了必须满足的要求，以及在DFG优先计划2089“根际时空组织-根际功能的关键”框架内建立的实验平台在实践中达到了什么程度。讨论了在多大程度上可以适应理论考量，尤其是在各个规模的比较中，即从实验室到现场规模。后一种规模对于克服所涵盖的生命周期比例与避免不切实际的根长密度之间的折衷至关重要。