Study of root capacitance in strawberry plants under physicochemical variations using the RC model

The electrical capacitance technique is used as a non-destructive method and serves to evaluate the root system of plants. Capacitance allows for an indirect interpretation of a plant's physiological state and root development. Therefore, the aim of this work was the study of root capacitance in strawberry plants under physicochemical variations, pH changes and conductivity, using the RC model. The methodology of this research work consisted of measuring the electrical response of the root-substrate system using an LCR meter, where the plant is in a distilled water solution, varying the pH and electrical conductivity of the medium in a controlled manner. The results obtained will be analyzed using an equivalent RC model, which allows for the separation of the resistive effects associated with ionic flow and the capacitive effects related to the structure and state of the membranes. The temporal evolution of capacitance will allow the identification of changes in root activity associated with environmental variations, since this parameter is related to the active surface and the state of cell membranes. In this way, the analysis of the capacitive signal over time allows the detection of conditions of stress, adaptation or growth of the root system. The results include the evaluation of the sensitivity of electrical parameters to changes in pH and conductivity, as well as the identification of nonlinear behaviors in the system response.