Influence of Water Application Systems on Avocado Root Distribution

Abstract

This study was conducted on the farm of Pico Agricultural Company in Badr Center, Behira Governorate, Egypt (30.5766o N, 30.7155o E). The Pinkerton avocado trees were used in this study. The study aims to demonstrate the effect of water addition using drip irrigation, micro-sprinkler, and (drip irrigation and microsprinkler together) on the active root distribution of avocado trees. Active roots were recorded per square centimeter during the spring season of each year within 200 cm of the avocado tree stem from the four surrounding trees under each of the three irrigation systems. The results showed that the best distribution of active roots/cm was achieved under the drip and micro-sprinkler systems together, followed by micro-sprinkler irrigation, and finally drip irrigation. The distribution of active roots /cm for both drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler irrigation together and drip irrigation to a distance of 90 cm from the avocado tree trunk from the four different sides was equaled, followed by micro-sprinkler irrigation. On the other hand, there are no active roots in the distance from 120 cm to 200 cm of the trunk under drip irrigation in the direction of east and west of the trunk of avocado trees. Finally, the best distribution of the active roots of the avocado trees was under the combination of the drip and micro-sprinkler irrigation systems together, which positively affected the productivity of avocado trees compared to both drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler irrigation alone.