Correcting mathematically for soil adhering to root samples

Plant roots are important sources of new organic matter in soil, but measuring their mass and composition is sometimes made difficult by adhering soil particles. We propose a technique, based on carbon in ‘pure’ root tissue, to correct mathematically for soil contamination in measurements of root mass, nutrient concentrations, and isotopic abundance. At least in some applications, the method may allow researchers to measure root yields and composition without the tedium and losses sometimes incurred during rigorous cleaning.