| Tomato root development and distribution was studied in response to the location of the drip irrigation lateral. Two high frequency irrigation treatments, surface drip (HFSD) and subsurface drip (HFSSD), were replicated three times and set up in a randomized complete block design. This study was carried out in the 1990 season at the University of California, West Side Field Station, California. Characterization of the root development in the soil profile was done via root scanning equipment to measure the root length density (RLD). Gravimetric water content of the soil samples was also determined. HFSD irrigation promoted higher RLD in the top 30 cm of soil, while HFSSD-irrigation resulted in higher RLD below 30 cm. In both cases, a differential root growth toward the source of water was observed. The root system in HFSSD-irrigated plots was significantly reduced with respect to that of the HFSD plots. |
