Abstract
ABSTRACT Root architecture affects plant growth and agricultural productions. Although it is related to genetic factors, soil physical limitations can affect the root system and volume of explored soil, compromising plant growth and fruit production. Considering the need to mitigate these restrictions, the objective of the present study was to evaluate two planting types (planting of protected seedlings and planting of seeds in definitive place) and two scion-rootstock combinations (‘Pera’ sweet orange, CNPMF D-6 selection, combined with ‘Santa Cruz Rangpur’ lime and ‘Sunki Tropical’ mandarin rootstocks). The experiment was conducted at the Lagoa do Coco Farm, Rio Real, BA, Brazil, in a Oxisol under rainfed conditions. Biometric, physiological, and soil water content evaluations were made during the experiment. Soil mechanical resistance to root penetration and root system characteristics were also evaluated. Roots were concentrated on the soil surface layers (0-0.40 m), extending horizontally up to 1.50 m from the plant, regardless of the management practices used. The total root length in each root diameter classes studied, root length density, and total root mean diameter were higher for planting of protected seedling, resulting in greater root development. Plants from ‘Pera’ sweet orange scion grafted on ‘Santa Cruz Rangpur’ lime rootstock had earlier production and were more vigorous. Soil structure affects root growth, and the root distribution up to 0.40 m depth is correlated with plant vigor, yield, and water status under rainfed conditions.
Highlights
Citriculture has socioeconomic importance to the Coastal Tablelands region, in the Northeast of Brazil, where Bahia and Sergipe are the third and fourth largest citrus producing states, respectively
The total root length in each root diameter classes studied, root length density, and total root mean diameter were higher for planting of protected seedling, resulting in greater root development
The planting type had significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on total root length (TRL), root length density (RLD), mean root diameter (MRD) and root diameter classes (< 2 and > 2 mm) in the longitudinal profile to the plant row, with higher values for planting of protected seedlings (PPS), whereas no isolate effects or interaction between the factors studied on these variables were found for the orthogonal profile to the plant row (Figure 3)
Summary
Citriculture has socioeconomic importance to the Coastal Tablelands region, in the Northeast of Brazil, where Bahia and Sergipe are the third and fourth largest citrus producing states, respectively. Citrus crops cover approximately 87,782 hectares in this geomorphological region, which is responsible for 6.2% of the citrus production in Brazil (IBGE, 2017). The soil compaction and irregular rainfall distribution are constant challenges for the citriculture in the Coastal Tablelands region, considering the predominant rainfed production; they directly affect the plant yield and fruit quality, and decrease useful life of plants, contributing to the vulnerability of citrus orchards (Cintra, 2011; Rezende et al, 2015). The planting seeds of citrus rootstocks directly in their definitive place has been adopted by citrus growers as an alternative management to mitigate restrictions imposed by cohesive layers of the soil. The hypothesis is that the successive pruning of roots in the transplants (seed germination container-nursery-definitive place) in conventional planting reduces the dominance of the main root, and alters the plant morphology and physiology, compromising its development and acclimatization, in detriment of precocity and yield (Rezende, 2013; Rezende et al, 2015).
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