Impact of grove floor management and irrigation practices on citrus root distribution

Totaling approximately six million tons of production each year, the citrus industry is one of the most important in the US. The South Texas region, specially the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), ranks third in the nation when it comes to citrus production and produces more than 250,000 tons of fruit annually. Nevertheless, production can be limited due to many factors, including increasing temperatures and drought, which play a large role in total yield. Furthermore, water availability is affected by soil and management practices, which can impact tree health and production. Previous studies have shown certain management practices affect citrus root health and distribution within the soil profile. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of different management and irrigation practices on citrus root systems in the LRGV. The practices include flat or raised bed, the use of groundcover, and different irrigation techniques. Citrus roots were collected from three groves then measured using WinRHIZO software to analyze their differences in root distribution and morphology. Treatments and irrigation affected root growth at each site depending on the soil type and location. Clay soils reduced root parameters overall and sandy soils improved when using the management treatments. Management efforts that improve the soil environments for tree roots have shown to positively impact tree and root growth