Soil physical properties and root concentrations in an irritated peach orchard

Abstract

The root concentrations of irrigated peach trees were measured under three soil management treatments (cultivation, bare soil, and straw mulch) and at three different sites across the tree rows. The study was made in a typical Goulburn Valley soil where roots mass in the shallow A horizon above the heavy clay of the B horizon. Root concentrations were related to soil water suction, aeration, and mechanical resistance. The root concentration was influenced by the site rather than soil management treatment. The treeline bank contained 60 per cent of all surface soil roots, apparently due to its open, stable structure. In contrast, the hard traffic line supported very few roots. The inter-row contained less roots than the tree line for reasons which differed according to soil management treatment.