Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671
Performing Department
Plant Sciences
Non Technical Summary
This project supports the mission of the Agricultural Experiment Station by addressing the Hatch Act areas of soil and water conservation use,multiple use of forest rangelands, urban forestry, andsustainable agricultureThe belowground portion of perennial plants is of vital importance to plant survival, growth and, when appropriate, yield. Many problems with perennial plants in the landscape originate belowground, either as a result of poor transplanting technique in the nursery, poor planting technique in the landscape, poor care after transplanting in the landscape and/or lack of understanding of root function and thus poor rhizosphere management. Underperforming root systems can lead to reduced rates of crop production, or, in a worst case scenario, tree failure. This program has three objectives:1. Improve understanding of tree root physiology and water & nutrient uptake in particular so that specific water & nutrient application management recommendations can be made for trees growing in managed landscapes such as orchards, but also urban areas2. Providing a better understanding of the role of vegetation in urban landscapes, quantifying the impact of urban greenery on urban climate as well as quantifying how urban climatic and soil conditions affect urban vegetation3. Improving success of perennial vegetation transplanted into the landscape by assessing the efficacy of management strategies aimed at enhancing root establishment and growth during nursery production and after transplanting into the (urban or orchard) landscape.We will collect detailed data on the impact of water and nutrient management on root production, root morphology, and physiology (water & nutrient uptake) for a range of agriculturally important tree species. This will yield increased knowledge about impact of irrigation and fertigation timing on new root production, root traits and root physiology and improvements to current crop growth models in terms of timing of irrigation and nutrient application.In addition we will evaluate urban greenery and green design solutions for specific ecosystem services. This will yield specific management recommendations that will allow urban vegetation to thrive under urban conditions and thus provide optimal ecosystem services. Finally, we will continue to quantify which media, pots, transplant practices, after transplant care etc. will provide the most stable and healthy root system during nursery production and after transplanting into the landscape
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
20%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
This program has three objectives:1. Improve understanding of tree root physiology and water & nutrient uptake in particular so that specific water &nutrient application management recommendations can be made for trees growing in managed landscapes such asorchards, but also urban areas2. Providing a better understanding of the role of vegetation in urban landscapes, quantifying the impact of urbangreenery on urban climate as well as quantifying how urban climatic and soil conditions affect urban vegetation3. Improving success of perennial vegetation transplanted into the landscape by assessing the efficacy ofmanagement strategies aimed at enhancing root establishment and growth during nursery production and aftertransplanting into the (urban or orchard) landscape.
Project Methods
Field observations, greenhouse experiments, field experiments. Root observation techniques via minirhizotron, soil coring, ingrowth coring, root observation windows. Morphological and anatomical analysis using digital imaging and microscope techniques. General physiology including gas exchange (LiCor 6400 XT, Hansatech Oxytherm, LiCor 8100), plant water potential, hydraulic conductance and growth analysis. Instantaneous nutrient and water uptake rates using stable isotopes and direct depletion techniques as well as mass balance (net uptake). Environmental monitoring using soil water content, soil oxygen, EC, temperature, radiation, and humidity probes attached to dataloggers.