Control of root size and root environment of fruit trees for optimal fruit production

Abstract

Abstract Recent development in technologies of irrigation and fertilization enable us to control root size and environment under field conditions. Low volume irrigation and fertilization affects root size and rate of rootlets production and consequently vegetative and reproductive processes of whole plants. The mechanisms involved seem to include growth regulators production at the root apexes and their translocation to the shoots. Field experiments in a few species of deciduous trees and citrus, showed that root systems are very flexible and can adjust to low volume irrigation irrespective of age or size of the trees or stage of development. Root restriction under field conditions was found to cause precocity, increase productivity and reduce the size of the trees. A greater number of trees per unit land can be grown without reducing light penetration which is the most important factor affecting physiological processes controlling fruit bud differentiation, such as assimilate translocation, photosyntheti...