Numerical resolution of the C-root model using Discontinuous Galerkin methods on unstructured meshes: Application to the simulation of root system growth

Modeling and simulating root growth is still a challenging topic to understand plant growth. Among the various modeling approaches, C-Root is a density based model that follows the evolution in time and space of the root density in a given soil volume, in accordance with the ecophysiological phases of the root system development. The unknown variable, which is solution of an advection-reaction-diffusion equation, is the root density. This model is generic enough to adapt to different root system types by calibration. In this work we solved the model on unstructured meshes using the Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method. The DG method applied to root growth is briefly presented and the code is validated in the case of a plagiotropic root of Eucalyptus.