Root distribution and demography in an avocado (Persea americana) orchard under groundcover management systems
Amaya Atucha A E , Ian A. Merwin B , Michael G. Brown B , Francisco Gardiazabal C , Francisco Mena C , Cecilia Adriazola C , Marc Goebel D and Taryn Bauerle B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Western Colorado Research Center, Colorado State University, 3168 B ½ Road, Grand Junction, CO 81503, USA.
B Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, 134A Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
C Sociedad Gardiazabal and Mena, Blanco 512, Quillota, Chile.
D Department of Horticulture and Intercollege Graduate Program in Ecology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
E Corresponding author. Email: amaya.atucha@colostate.edu
Functional Plant Biology 40(5) 507-515 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP12317
Submitted: 26 October 2012 Accepted: 4 January 2013 Published: 18 February 2013
Abstract
The effect of groundcover management systems on root demography and distribution of newly planted avocado (Persea americana Mill) trees was examined using minirhizotron techniques. We evaluated three groundcover systems: (1) bare soil (BS), pre- and post-emergence herbicides; (2) vegetation strip (VS), post-emergence herbicide applied in a 1-m wide strip centred on the tree row plus a groundcover mixture seeded between tree rows; and (3) complete groundcover (GC), covering the entire surface of the plots. Root production was higher in the non-bearing year (2009–10) than in the bearing year (2010–11). Trees in the BS plots had more roots of bigger diameter in the top 30 cm of soil and trees in VS and GC plots had more roots in the 30–60 cm depth and of smaller diameter. Lifespan of spring-born roots were 61 and 59% greater than those born during autumn and summer, respectively and soil depth and root diameter were positively correlated with root longevity. Lifespan of thinner roots (<0.2 mm) in the BS and VS plots were 49 and 33% greater than GC respectively. Avocado trees grown in contrasting condition compared with their native habitat show high morphological root plasticity, in response to resource and non-resource competition when grown in mixed stands.
Additional keywords: avocado, minirhizotron, plasticity, root production.
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