ISHS Acta Horticulturae 275: International Symposium on the Culture of Subtropical and Tropical Fruits and Crops
ROOT DISTRIBUTION OF AVOCADO TREES ON A SANDY LOAM SOIL AS AFFECTED BY SOIL COMPACTION |
| Author: | R.A. Abercrombie |
| Abstract:
A root distribution study on three mature fuerte avocado trees as related to soil compaction was conducted with the use of a penetrometer and with soil root profiles at the periphery of the trees. The profile walls that were compared had the same width and depth (3.3 x 0.9 m). In compacted soil layers (150 – 450 mm), where 50 % of the roots were restricted to the topsoil (0 – 150 mm) and with only sporadic occurrence of roots below the compacted layers the threshold soil strength was about 2500 kPa. A reduction in root number and tree volume occurred at these soil strength values. Where the soil layer had a strength below 2500 kPa a good root distribution occurred throughout the profile. High soil strengths in compacted soil layers were attributed to a high content of fine and medium sand in the profiles, which are apparantly more susceptible to compaction. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
