The influence of soil moisture on apple root growth and root: shoot ratios

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Abstract
Summary Moisture stress, fluctuating soil moisture availability and waterlogging during the summer months all reduced growth and increased root : shoot ratios of young Granny Smith apple trees on Mailing Merton 115 rootstocks. Antitranspirants did not overcome the adverse effects of fluctuating soil moisture availability on shoot growth. Some reduction in root growth was also brought about by moisture stress, and, since roots tended to proliferate less in dry soil, the general configuration of the root system was changed. Frequent irrigation which maintained the soil at field capacity produced the largest trees on MM. 115. Trees on seedling rootstocks were comparatively unaffected by moisture stress or by waterlogging.

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