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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393763
Research Project: Water and Nutrient Management for Sustainable Production of Small Fruit and Nursery Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit

Title: Container type alters root structure and quality in Quercus spp

Author
item HARTLEY, RAVEN - Oregon State University
item Scagel, Carolyn
item CONTRERAS, RYAN - Oregon State University
item NACKLEY, LLOYD - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2022
Publication Date: 10/20/2022
Citation: Hartley, R., Scagel, C.F., Contreras, R., Nackley, L.L. 2022. Container type alters root structure and quality in Quercus spp. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.57.9S.S1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.57.9S.S1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Poor root structure reduces the quality of nursery crops. For decades, container grown trees and shrubs have a prevalent issue of circling or girdling roots that reduce product quality. Oak (Quercus spp.) are circling roots in containers. In container nurseries, trees and shrubs are primarily grown in solid-walled plastic pots, even though alternative container types have been developed specifically to improve plant root structure. The “root-type” containers use gaps in the pot walls to “air prune” roots and prevent circling. However, increased air contact with the substrate can dry out the substrate more quickly and therefore require more irrigation to minimize plant water stress. The objectives of this study were to determine how different container types alter water holding capacity and root structure. of four species of oak, Quercus palustris, Q. rubra, Q. macrocarpa, and Q. bicolor. The four oak species were grown in different types of approximately three-gallon sized containers: nursery pot, air pot, root bag, root bag in nursery pot, root bag in air pot, and air pot in nursery pot. Seedlings were grown at Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center (Aurora, Oregon) for six months, on a spray-stake irrigated gravel-pad. To assess treatment effects we measured root structure, root mass, stem caliper, and plant height. The root bag treatments produced more fibrous, branching root systems compared to the nursery pot and pot-in-pot treatments. The caliper and height were not affected by pot type. The solid walled plastic cans retained moisture longer than the air pots and root bags. In summary, root pots will reduce girdling and need more frequent irrigation.