Comparison of Root Development of Pear Trees on Seedling and Quince A and C Rootstocks

Abstract

After 17 years of growing in a sod-podzolic soil root distributions of ‘Byelorussian Late’ pear grafted on pear seedlings and Quince A, and Quince C were determined by excavation. Tree spacing was 5 x 3 m (666 plant/ha). Cultivation system of soil management was employed. Pear seedlings had a root system made up of long, large roots, whereas the quince rootstocks had a root system made up of a large mass of fibrous roots. Quince C had a larger root system than Quince A. The majority of the roots were concentrated in a layer of 10 to 50 (60) cm. The quince rootstocks had the highest density of fibrous roots near the trunk, once was 2 to 3 times less dense in the middle of between-row spacing. The fibrous root index (= specific mass of fibrous roots/specific length of scaffold roots) of quince rootstocks was two times more as compared with seedling stock. This index for quince rootstocks was maximum at the depth of 50 to 100 cm and at the distances of 1.5 to 2.5 m from the trunk, but for pear seedlings—near thick roots.