Root system distribution of rootstocks under ‘Folha Murcha’ orange plant scion in subtropical climate

Abstract

The aim was to study the distribution of the root system of Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck), Rough lemon (Citrus jambluri Lush.), Cleopatra mandarin (Citrus reshni Hort ex Tan.) and Trifoliata (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Ralf.), under ‘Folha Murcha’ orange plant scion in subtropical climate, using the auger method. The samples were taken parallel to the line of planting (row) 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 m away from the trunk and perpendicular to the line of planting (inter-row) 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 and 3.5 m away from the trunk. These samples were stratified into 0 – 0.1; 0.1 – 0.2; 0.2 – 0.4; 0.4 – 0.6 m deep. Dry mass, effective depth and effective distance of the root system of plants were determined. Randomized blocks design was used with four treatments and four replications, with one plant for each plot. Cleopatra mandarin plants had the highest total mass of roots 2.0; 2.5 and 3.0 m away from the trunck in inter-row, and in superficial layers of the following sampling sites: 0.5 and 1.0 m away from the trunk towards row and 1.5 e 2.0 m away from the trunck towards inter-row. Rough lemon plants showed greater effective depth of the roots in the rows than the other rootstocks.