Legume shovelomics: High—Throughput phenotyping of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp, unguiculata) root architecture in the field

•A method for root architectural phenotyping of field-grown legumes is presented.•Genotypes can be differentiated in the field.•Heritability of scored traits ranged from very low to high.•This platform should be useful for legumes and possibly other dicot crops.