| Bare-rooted and container-grown 'Hamlin' orange trees [Citrus
sinensis (L.) Osb.] on sour orange rootstock (C. aurantium L.)
were planted in double-row beds to compare growth for the first 2 years
under the same edaphic, cultural and environmental conditions. In experiment
one, standard nursery trees were used, with bare-rooted trees being larger
than container-grown trees at planting time. In a second experiment, trees
of more uniform size were used. In a third experiment, container-grown trees
were planted after removing all, 1/2, or no medium prior to planting
to study the effect of media removal on growth over one season. Bare-rooted
trees were significantly larger than container-grown trees 8 and 20 months
after planting in experiment one. When trees of more uniform size were used,
bared-rooted trees were significantly larger than container-grown trees
8 months after planting. After 18 months, trunk cross sectional area of
bare-rooted trees remained significantly larger, but canopy volume was similar.
Removal of medium from container-grown trees improved growth the first season,
especially root growth, suggesting that it is important to select large
nursery trees with healthy root systems and to break up the root ball prior
to planting to achieve optimum growth for container-grown trees. |