Resumo

CONTRERAS-MORALES, E. et al. Persian lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) root distribution. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.2, pp.223-234. ISSN 2007-4034.

To investigate the Persian lime trees root distribution growing in a sandy soil, or on a clay one at Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz State, México, this study was done. The soil trench profile method was employed, and roots were classified into four categories, according to their diameter: R1 (>15 mm), R2 (5-15 mm), R3 (1-5 mm) and R4 (<1 mm). The trenches were 4 m long, 1 m deep and 0.8 m wide and three trenches were made for each tree (50 cm from the trunk, canopy perimeter and half-way between them). Four homogeneous trees, twelve-years-old and nine-years-old for the sandy soil and for the clay one, respectively were used. The roots were grouped into three depth stratum (0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-100 cm). The roots number was analyzed using the SAS program, considering the depth and the distance from the trunk as factors. The higher number of roots was observed, for both types of soil, in the 0-30 cm deep soil stratus, decreasing in the deeper strata. The roots number decrease as the distance from the trunk increased. The most abundant roots were R4, or fibrous, followed by R3, R2 and R1.

Palavras-chave : root distribution; diameter; soil depth.