MARDIRes. J. 19(2)1991: 183-189
Root distributionof durian (Duriozibethinus Murr.) cv.D 24 [Taburanakar durian (Durio zibethinusMurr.) kv. D 24]
M. Masri*
Key words:root distribution,root length density, durian
Abstrak Taburan akar durian (Durio zibethinls Mun.) kv. D 24 yang berumur antara 4-5 tahun secaramendatar dan mengikur kedalaman tanah telah dikaji. Kepadatan akar didapatibcrkurangan mengikut arah mcndatardari pangkalpokok dan mengikut kedalamantanah. trbih daripada85% jumlah kerumpatanakar terletak di permulaantiga-percmpar saiz kanopi dikira dari pangkalpokok' Antara ?2- 877o kepadatanakar didapari di lapisan 0-45 cm dari permukaan tanah. Hanya 754odaripadajumlah keseluruhan kcpadatan akar terletakdi hujung kanopi.
Abstract The horizontal and vertical root distributionof 4 to 5-year-oldbudded durian (Durio zibethinnsMurr.) cv. D 24 was srudied.Root length densirydecreased horizonrallyfrom the crown and vertically with soil depth.More than 85% of root length densirywas locatedwithin the first three-quartersof canopy size from the crown. AboutT2-877oof root length densiryconcentrated within 0-45 cm from the soil surface.Approximately less than l5ak of root length density was found at the edgeof the canoPY.
Introduction spacing(Atkinson 1980). In Malaysia, Roots are major vcgeutivc organsthat attemptshave brcn made to study the root supply watcr, mincralsand subslanccs systcmsof cocoa(Mohd. Noh 1985), esscntialfor plantgrowth and dcvclopmcnt. coconut(Mohd. Noh et al. 1987)and durian The ability to exploit thc soil for nulrients (Othman 1980). have and water depcndson thg morphologicaland Durian treesdeveloped from seeds physiologicalcharactcristics of the roots deeproot systemswhile thoseplanted from (Tisdaleet al. 1985).Vigorous root growth buddedmatcrials have shallow root systems is required for gcncral vigour and growth of (Othman 1980).Sixty percentof root length plans. Greaterroot cxplorat.ionof the soil density of 3-year-oldbudded durian are from the crown volumewill lcld to Ercltcrnutricnt and concentratedwithin 0.6 m watcr uptake. and 0.3 m lrom t]re soil surface(Masri Root distributionprttcrn of trcc crops 1989). hasbcen discussed by Atkinson(1980) and Information on root distributionpattern for fruit treesby Akinson and Wilson of durian is important for efficient cultural (1980).Generally, the root distributionof practices,especially during is early yearsof the trcc changeswith age and diflcrs among planting.Therefore, a significanteffort has varieties,cultivars and soil typcs.Root to be madeto characterizethe root growthcan be modificdby soil managcment distributionpatterns o[ durian. Hence,this and culturalpracticcs such as pruningand study was undcrtakento determinethe
*Fruirs ResearchDivision, N,I,\l{DI I:ruir ll.cscarchCcntre, Bukit 1'angga,06050Bukit Kayu llium' Malaysia Autlror'sfull name : Masn I'uhamad @MalaysianAgncultural Rcscarch and DcvclopmcrrtInstitute 1992
183 Root distribution of durian
generalpattern of root distributionof durian grown on clay loam soils underdifferent environmentalconditions.
Materialsand methods The experimentwas initiatedin 1988by collectingroot samplesfrom differentdurian populationsat MARDI stationsof Bertam, Jerangau,Serdang and KualaKangsar. At eachlocation, four Feeswere randomly selectedfrom the orchardpopulation of buddedD 24 durianclone. The trees selectedwere 4-5 yearsold, with aboutthe samegirth sizeand canopy spread. The soil types,planting distance and the selectedtree characteristicsat the four locationsare Zt shownin Tablel. l14xl12x314x For eachtree selected, the distance betweenthe baseof the trunk to the peripheraledge of the canopywas 30 determined.The distancewas then r45 subsequentlydivided into four equidistance tr\ ;60 points.At eachpoint, core soil sampleswere '75 takenat 15cm depth incrementsup to 90 ,90 cm soil depthusing an aluminiumtube of Soil depth (cm) 5 cm in diameter(Figure l). Figure L The samples(soil + root)were then A schematb diagrarn of a dubn tree to show the location of poius relalive to the washedthrough a2-mm seiveto separate canopy where root satnples were tal Table l. Soil type, planting distanceand characteristicsof the selectedtrees at the fow locations Soil Planting Tree* Location rype distance (m) Age Girth Canopy (year) (m) spread(m) Bertam Sandyclay loam l0 x 10 5.0 0.6 a^ Jerangau Clay loam 10 x 10 4.5 0.4 2.0 Serdang Clay loam 10 x 10 4.5 u.) 2.1 K.Kangsar Clay loam 10 x l0 5.0 0.5 1.9 *Average measurementof four selectedtrees 184 M. Masri Resultsand discussion the G-90cm soil layer. At Bertam,42Vo of The statisticalanalysis was conducted using the total RLD in the 0-90 cm soil layer was the Proceduresof the GeneralLinear Models foundat the top 15 cm from the soil surface (SAS).Analysis showed that the interaction while 37, 36 and3l%o were observed at betweenfactors among locations was Kuala Kangsar,Serdang and Jerangau sigruficant(Table 2). This suggessthat root respectively.These resulls showed that, over disribution of duriantree depends on the locations,about 3l42%o of RLD was found orchardenvironment at the particular within &e top 15 cm of the soil layer while location. 72-87Voof RLD was foundwithin G45 cm soil profiles.Penetration of rootsbeyond 75 Vertical root distribution cm was negligibleamounting lo lessthan The verticalroot distributionof durianin 5Voof Lhetotal RLD in all locations. relationto soil depth is showninTable 3. In comparisonwith othertre€ crops, Resultsshowed that. root lengthdensity Patternet al. (1988)found that 907o RLD (RLD) washigher near lhe soil surfaceand ofclimax' bluebeny waslocated within decreasedwith soil depths.In all locations, G45 cm soil depth. Approximately70Vo of theRLD foundwithin G45 cm soil layer root dry weightof applewas found within wassignificantly higher compared with G-30cm depth(Atkinson 1980). In cocoa, RLD valuesat depthsdeeper than 45 cm. over65Vo of root numberoccupied the top The amountof RLD in the0-45 cm soil 30 cm from thesoil surface(Mohd. Noh profileconstituted to about72Vo (Serdang), 1980).This showsthat the ability of tree 75Vo(Jerangau),85Vo @erram) and 87Vo roots!o penetratethe soil not only depends (KualaKangsar) of the total RLD found in Table 2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the varioru pararnelers Source df SS F-value PR>F [,ocation 0.38 38.15 0.000i Replicate 1", 0.09 2.35 0.0066 Distance J t.)L I.'J.LJ 0.0001 Depth 5 3.69 223.71, 0.0001 Distance x Depttr 15 0.61 12.35 0.0001 l.ocation x Distance 9 0.12 4.10 0.0001 Location x Depth 15 0.53 10.63 0.0001 Table 3. Root length dersity of durian in the various soil lavers at the four locationsr Soil depth (cm) Root length dersity (cm/cmr) Bertam Jerangau Serdang K. Kangsar 0-15 0.4612a* 0.2857a 0.21Ma 0.2774a l5-20 0.2580b 0.2342b a.r223b 0.1979b 30-45 0.2260b 0.1963b 0.I 039b 0.1831b 45-60 0.0664c 0.7241c 0.0827c 0.0491c 60-75 0.0600c 0.0735d 0.0529c 0.0347c 75-90 0.0378c 0.0324e 0.0285c 0.0070d c. v.go) 32.r 15.9 44.2 48.3 tRoot length density valuesat eachof the soil layers within each location were the total RLD for the four poins relative to canopy radius *Means within each column with different letters are sign.ificantly different (p<0.05) using DMRT 185 Root distribution of durian on the orchardenvironment but alsoon tfre Root length density (on/on3) particularspecies of the tree. 0.25 Resultsof the regressionanalysis betweentotal RLD and soil depthshowed 0.20 dratRLD declinedlinearly with increasein soil depth(Figure 2). The higher concentrationof rootsat the top of the soil 0.15 prohle is ecologicallyadvantageous because fertilizer and irrigationmanagements could 0.10 be efficiently managedaccording to the disnibutionof roots.Since the concentration of mostelements is highestat the soil 0.05 surface(Atkinson 1980),the higherroot concentrationat this vicinitymay result in a 0 higherrate of nutrientabsorption. On the 1l4x lnr 3l4z x contrary,weedicideapplication or manual Distancerelative to canopysize Root length density (crn/an3) Figure 3. Relatiorchip between root length density and distance relative to canopy size 0.1 0.2 0.3 (each data point is the average of the total RLD in the 0-90 cm soil layer at the four locations) circularweeding should be donecautiously or avoidedduring the early yearsof duian plantingbecause this maycause serious injuriest0 the roots. H orizo ntal roo t distrib ution The distributionof durianroots in the horizontaldirection is shownnTable 4. The studyindicated that the RLD Soil depth (cm) distributionwas concentrated nearest to the Figure 2. Reluionship between root length crownand gradually declined towards the density atd soil depth (each data poitlt is the endof thecanopy. About 34-4970 of RLD average of the total RLD in tle horizorual wasfound within the first.quarter of the direction at the four locations) canopyradius which was49Vo (Serdang), Table 4. Horizontal spread of durian root length density taken at G-90 cm soil deptlrs RLD at points [.ocation relative to canopyl Bertam Jerangau Serdang K. Kangsar 114x 0.2503a* 0.2244a 0.2000a 0.2069a lnx 0.2023b 0.1940b 0.1231b 0.t344b 314x 0.2088b 0.11 86c 0.0512c 0.1099b x 0.0787c 0.0805c 0.0316c 0.M83c c. v. (Ea) 32.1 15.9 48.3 44.2 rRefer to the schematic diagram of figue I on how these points were derived *Means within each column with different letters are significantly different (p<0.05) using DMRT 186 M. Masri Root length densiry (crn/cnr-) 0.45 0.35 0.25 0.15 Y"a. 7rb 0.05 0 0.45 0.35 0.25 0.15 0.05 0 l-ocation relative to canoPY Figure 4. Vertical and horizorual root density distribution of durian at tla four locations 187 iRt,ot dislii'r,ir,:n,'j rirrii.iirl 4l7r: (Kua1aKa:ig'r.',ri. -ii;% iJcrangai:)and .ttr;.:niu.a: tn ititr. D[ .i p"irlif r:li-ir Ii1,3ti{ !x't. 14% (Bertnrlr oi i.hci(rLai I(l,l.r 1;.,;1f1:11,l-.i)1; j.{i1psr'61s,i.lrr r(.'s'Jli.s rlriI-a]iitd irii the'* cln rrorlla3,cr ,'\.itoLrL}(t l'0{ll:r:i t}e l{.|.-i) :totTlef f tlcial I:ai.tentr.:i iit.;;ri:f'ulit,n. i{rut :1-cl !"r'aitC(-rllcel) ir iil{--'-i\\' i ii rirl Ii, r:,;r: t'r..i i ii ;ri Iij .,:lt_': ili'd I : lli:{.i ir r ;,-..11 | - i,r. .li l;' r i,'- f, ",',ii l. i..lLrrdlquar ler';i. rite i:ar,rL,r' i:i ri;i.i:, i.'.,.r,t, ri;\.),,?i:1,,ii;C (lii.e II iitc t,,.,.iia!j'- "rl'r,l '. !cr,;l.tlr,1c;r.,.. ,..:.,. .,:;' .,.. . .-i ...: ,(..tlr,lir,., ,.,1ijr!{jti .j,.';....,.,',.,:.'.:.'r i. :1,:f . 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O.,u:,i\\.,..er. \\. \1. e.1 dcpths ol nl,-rc L.ir.in75 cnl iut.l :ti ilt,' I I -l;-:11.l-i'r:Ji)il: il ili.r\\.)r-'Lil)'i'lr..r,iion n,.rinh,'r.r Lr,l.r-- , rr' rlr,. , il.r::cr.S..\. ur:JSilbcrburh, \1. (lg!.i). i)lur r(\)r pul tPttul{t U!.li:i \rl utU vJrlOf ., . lcngth,.\iis n;qrir.rlo:r eiiJ nutricat upirke. In Rl,lr. Root rcportcJt.r bl .1rr-.llir -.. 4.a: t:t J/1,:. b,;,i.c r I n-:::n J rn;. 1rg, ;r in p. pr0portionrli.o lh.' root surfu.. :ir.:r \\ itil"- 1,1'.,;a; b5-,\1. \1.'J i:r)n, \\ 1)!!)ltiin: ..\nleri.f, il S\\! iJt\ totrt nutiicnt upt.Ll.cdcp,Jn.i:d Lricl, r-rn:1i: ,.\gr0nom\ ' root SurfJcr-arcir lnd rtlc' r)f Lrfririkcir;i ij111i \'1r.rr. \.1. l'.i::;1,'\ modiiicil Irnc inicr:ccl of root surl:i!c (B.rrhcrun,J Silb'.:rb,il..it lceIrlr],:c ,1sd ntrlltoJ l\)r csltntJlt,.n(,f rrllt 'Jccs. 198"i).Hrncc, ti;J ricn-scr roui l-.liilt r.ii..ir:ir.::.,;l.,i iilr;an .'l/,.\/?r1ft..i -/ l.l(lr' :s 1-i Concenf.ltionncir lhc cro\\n i]nJ :tt UtJ5oil \{rhd. \uh.,\. J. rl9ii5). K:lian:rua1 nrc;rgcn.u m3)' surface constitutcto a highcrnLitricnt sisLc;niti(3r koko dalam sstenr koko-kriapa di uptakeat thcscvicinitics. al.rs idnnlr lrrt pantai. 7'eknul. KoL,.Kelui,a, L'l:\RDl 1; l-s-i0 Conclusion N{ohd.Noh, A. J., lr!usa,fv{. J., Abduilah, O. and This studyshowcd that thc RLD disLriburiorr \{d. Sharif. A. (1987). The inllucncc of slope on root distributionand of buddedD 24 durianclone is dcpcndcnr f.icld of crxonut. Proc. lnt. conf. sreepld. agric. humid tropics 11-21 on fte envkonmcntand orchitrd 188 M. Masri Aug. 1987,Kuala Lumpur, p. 55G-74.Serdang: blueberryas affectedby mulch and irrigation MARDI geometry.J. Atner.Soc. Hort. Sc.113:65741 Othman,Y. (1980).Soil fertility, nutrient Tennant,D. (1975).A testof a modifiedline requirernentand fertilisation of fruit trees.In intersectmethod of estimatingroot length.,I. Fruit production in Malaysia. (Othman, Y. ed.) Ecol. 63l 995-lml p. 13142. Serdang:Universiti Pertanian Tisdale, S. L., Nelson, W. L. and Beaton,J. D. Malaysia (1985). Soilfertility andfertilizers p. 579. New Pattern,K. D., Neuendorff,E. W. and Peters,S. C. York: Macmillan Publication (1988).Root distributionof 'climax' rabbireye Accepledfor publicalion on 16 January I99l 189