Summary
Soil and plant investigations were carried on a grove of Washington navel orange and Balady mandarin in the United Arab Republic to find out the cause of the large differences in the tree vigour. During 1965 and 1966 the groundwater level was measured several times, groundwater and soil samples were analysed, new shoots and leaves in three flushes/year were determined. Root intensity at distance and depth were also determined. Roots and leaves were analysed for several mineral contents.
Results obtained refer to the depth of water table as the dominant factor responsible for growth differences, whereas salinity as secondary effect mostly was not involved. The number of shoots (for both varieties) was the most effected. Total leaf area (reflecting all other effects) was reduced tremendously by water table change from 171 to 53 cm for orange and from 158 to 89 cm for mandarin. Travelling distance of feeder roots, horizontally or vertically was reduced remarkably and its intensity shifted upward in front of a rising water table. Mineral contents did not change with water table. Yield of both varieties was remarkably reduced with rising water table.
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Contribution from the Pomology Division, College of Agr., Univ. Alex., Alexandria, U.A.R.
Prof., of Pomology Univ., Alex. Director of Soil Salinity Lab., Ministry of Agr. U.A.R. Lecturer of Pomology Univ., Alex.
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Minessy, F.A., Barakat, M.A. & El-Azab, E.M. Effect of some soil properties on root and top growth and mineral content of Washington navel orange and Balady mandarin. Plant Soil 34, 1–15 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01372755
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01372755