ISHS Acta Horticulturae 274: International Symposium on Diagnosis of Nutritional Status of Deciduous Fruit Orchards
MINERAL ELEMENT CONTENT IN CHERRY ROOTS IN RELATION TO THEIR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION IN AN ORCHARD SOIL |
| Authors: | M. Baghdadi, A. Sadowski |
| Abstract:
Mazzard (Prunus avium) roots (scion - 'Schattenmorelle' sour cherry) were analyzed for mineral element content after excavation out of different soil horizons of an alluvial silty loam soil, separately under grass and under a herbicide strip. The highest N content in fibrous roots (1 mm in diameter) was found in the humic A1 horizon, especially under a herbicide strip; in all the soil layers the root N content under a herbicide strip was higher than under grass. Root P content also decreased with depth but it did not depend on soil management. Ca and Mg content in the roots was much higher in deeper soil layers than in upper ones. In the uppermost 15 cm layer, roots excavated under a herbicide strip contained more K, Mg, Mn, Fe and Al and less Ca than those taken under grassed alleways. Root Zn content was higher under a herbicide strip than under grass, irrespective of soil layer. The differences in mineral composition of fibrous roots might be related, in some instances, to available nutrient content in the soil, soil pH or humus content, varying at different depth and at different soil management. However, the relationships between root and soil composition are not quite clear. | |
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