ISHS Acta Horticulturae 713: VI International Peach Symposium
SOIL TREATMENTS DIFFERENTIALLY AFFECT PEACH TREE ROOT DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOGRAPHY IN A REPLANT SITE |
| Authors: | S.C. Tanner, G.L. Reighard, C.E. Wells |
| Keywords: | Prunus persica, methyl bromide, soil fumigation, solarization, minirhizotron, root lifespan |
| Abstract:
The effects of soil solarization and methyl bromide fumigation on soil microbial suppression and the demography of peach tree fine roots (<1 mm in diameter) were evaluated using minirhizotrons. The observations were taken during the first growing season of newly planted peach trees on an Appling sandy loam, replant site near Clemson, South Carolina. In June 2002, six 37 m long former tree rows were cultivated and subsoiled. Two rows were covered in clear polyethylene plastic sheeting and solarized for the remainder of the summer. Two rows were treated with methyl bromide in November 2002 at the rate of 474.3 kg per hectare. Two rows were untreated except for weed control. In January 2003, 36 ‘Redglobe’ peach trees budded on either ‘Guardian’TM or ‘Lovell’ rootstock were planted with a shovel. One minirhizotron was installed beneath each tree 7 days after planting to avoid disrupting the trees’ roots. Minirhizotrons were videotaped approximately every 14-21 days beginning February 2003 until October 2003. Solarization and methyl bromide treatments produced statistically significant increases in stem diameter growth and fine root longevity when compared to the untreated trees. Median lifespans of solarization and methyl bromide treated roots were 27 and 28 days longer than those of control roots, respectively. Trees in the solarization treatment had a higher percentage of roots that underwent secondary development than did trees in the methyl bromide and control treatments. The results from this experiment indicate that peach root longevity may be significantly affected by interactions with the soil microbial community, and these interactions may also influence the rate of both physical and anatomical root development. | |
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