Summary
The distribution of root activity in apple trees was determined by using selective placement of P32 within the rooting volume. In 2-year-old trees of cv Cox/M. 9 absorption of P32 from 30 cm depth was much greater than from 90 cm depth. The rate of absorption over a given period did not seem to be affected by the time of P32 injection. The variation in rate of uptake throughout the season was closely related to the seasonal patterns of white root production measured in a root laboratory. In 25-year-old trees of cv Fortune/M.9 considerable uptake occurred from 90 cm depth both close to the tree trunk and 150 cm away where excavation of a neighbouring tree showed a high root density.
In all experiments the balance of absorption between different depths seemed to change during the course of a season. re]19730607
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References
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Atkinson, D. Some observations on the distribution of root activity in apple trees. Plant Soil 40, 333–342 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011515
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011515