Peach Root Development and Tree Hydraulic Resistance under Tall Fescue Sod

Abstract

Peach trees [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cvs. Loring/Halford] were grown in boxes 100 × 60 × 36 cm (length × width × depth) to evaluate the effect of K-31 tall fescue sod ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) on peach root growth and development. The entire soil surface was kept bare in one treatment, while a fescue sod was established in one-third of the box for the second treatment. Trees were planted 17 cm from one edge of the box in bare soil in both treatments. Sod reduced tree growth. The length of roots ≥1 mm in diameter was unaffected by the sod at any position in the box. The length of roots <1 mm in diameter was reduced beneath the sod and in the area between the sod and tree compared to the bare soil treatment. The plant resistance to water flow/cm root (R p ) was unaffected by the presence of grass under both stressed and nonstressed conditions. R p was relatively constant (9.4 × 10 9 s cm -1 ) over a range of transpiration flux levels until the flux dropped below 0.3 cm 3 s -1 . Below 0.3 cm 3 s -1 R p increased due to soil resistance to water flow.