Effect of soil types and rootstocks on root distribution, chemical composition of leaves and yield of valencia oranges

Abstract

Effects of three soil types and three rootstocks on the performance of Valencia orange trees as measured by root distribution, leaf composition and yield were studied. The majority of roots were concentrated in the top 60 cm of soil. Trees on Murray sand had twice as many roots as on Barmera sand 'shallow phase', or as on Moorook sandy loam below 90 cm. Chlorophyll and iron levels were lowest in new 3-month-old leaves and increased with age. Levels of zinc, manganese, magnesium, calcium and chloride showed similar trends. Trees on Moorook sandy loam were not chlorotic in spite of the low chlorophyll in their leaves and the lowest production.