Development of fine and coarse roots of Thuja occidentalis 'Brabant' in non-irrigated and drip irrigated field plots

Abstract

Aboveground dry mass, total root dry mass and root length density of the fine roots of Thuja occidentalis `Brabant' were determined under non- and drip-irrigated field conditions. Two-dimensional diffusion parameters for dynamic root growth were estimated based on dry mass production of the fine roots and the concept of the convective-diffusion model of cylindrical root growth and proliferation. Drip irrigation increased above-ground dry mass and the shoot:root ratio compared with no irrigation. Dry mass of the coarse roots increased as well due to drip irrigation. No effect on total or fine root dry mass was found. Drip irrigation increased root length densities in the top 0.1 m but not significantly. However, drip irrigation decreased root proliferation in depth by 27%, whereas proliferation in the horizontal direction was not altered. Measured root length densities were overestimated by 6–21% by the model (0.68 < R2 < 0.92).