Correction - Distribution of peach roots under pasture and cultivation

Abstract

At the Scoresby Horticultural Research Station four peach trees, growing in a fine sandy clay loam developed on a Silurian mudstone, with pasture on one side of the tree row and cultivation on the other, were excavated in 1962 with water under high pressure hosing. In 1966 four similar trees were excavated in the same way. From 1962 to 1966 additional nitrogen was applied to all trees and complete autumn and spring ploughing replaced a modified cultivation system of autumn and spring discing. No differences were found between treatments or between times of excavation for total root weight or for three grades of root, fibre (<l mm), medium (1-9 mm), and framework (>9 mm). However, the root distribution patterns differed markedly and changed with time. Fibre root distribution improved over time for pasture and declined for cultivation, and by 1966 was more widespread under pasture than under cultivation. Part of these changes could be attributed to waterlogging damage in 1964. The pattern of root distribution helped to explain the tolerance of the pasture trees to wet conditions and was consistent with tree growth.